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Last Updated on 9 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Mahli Beardman is the source of a feel-good story in what has been an eventful week in Australian cricket. The highly-rated 21-year-old had a day to remember, taking 6/24 on ODI debut to dismantle England for 131 at Perth Stadium.
Beardman, part of Australia’s 2024 U19 World Cup-winning team, has been touted as one of the players to watch in the coming years. He produced immediately, taking the big wickets of Harry Brook and Joe Root within three overs. He eventually finished with the best figures on men’s ODI debut for Australia.
The fast bowler regularly hit speeds of around and above 140km/h. However, the most impressive feature of his performance was his consistency. He tested the England batsmen on the front foot and showcased his ability to get the ball to shape away from the right-handers even from wider of the crease. He had five players caught behind the wicket.
Beardman dismissed Brook with an outstanding delivery that angled in and seamed away to catch the England captain’s outside edge. Joe Root, who was struggling, was caught behind off an attempted cover drive. Jordan Cox was then undone by another superb Beardman outswinger.
England were then reduced to 58/6 with Sam Curran hooking a well-directed short delivery down the fine leg. Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer were Beardman’s final two scalps, and both were out caught at point attempting a drive on a Perth pitch offering tennis ball-like bounce.
“It all happened very quickly. It’s a great honour to represent my country and to take wickets is the cherry on top,” Beardman said after the innings. “Awesome to bowl alongside those guys [Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson] and get the job done.”
Fans, pundits and former players were all over it on social media, praising the 21-year-old for his excellent performance. Among those were Ian Bishop.
Here are some of the reactions.
BUILD. HIM. A. STATUE. pic.twitter.com/hPnlUClWne
— WACA (@WACA_Cricket) November 13, 2026
Good on Mahli Beardman 6/24 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) November 13, 2026
Mahli Beardman on his debut. 🔥
— Saksham Dhaka (@SakSpeaksHQ) November 13, 2026
6 wickets for 24 runs, that is the cricket story for today and coming years. 🥶🧿 pic.twitter.com/87Gu0qFkB4
5-fer on debut for Mahli Beardman. Kid looks like the real deal. Raw pace. Anybody watching the Eng vs Aus ODI? @beastieboy07 one of the promising talents to take care of the Aus fast bowling post the Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood era?
— Crikipidea (@crikipidea) November 13, 2026
What a day. Australian cricket has gone from obsessing over who knew what 8.5 years ago to obsessing over wanting to know all about Mahli Beardman. Proper cult hero alert. Got the hair, got the mo, got the pace & has got the best ODI figures for an Australian man on debut pic.twitter.com/u8tIWftQmM
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 13, 2026
Debut and a half!!!! 👏🏻
— Lachy (@lachy_steele) November 13, 2026
Time to go 1-0 up against the old enemy! 🤭 https://t.co/8dQXmOYndd
You couldn’t write a more perfect script. 5 wickets in 4.4 overs on debut for Mahli Beardman. Can’t believe what I’m watching.
— Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) November 13, 2026
Mahli Beardman 4fa on debut so far !! pic.twitter.com/tr1mNpqCNG
— Jake Jeakings (@JakeJeakings1) November 13, 2026
Good heavens, Mali Beardman, 6-24 on ODI debut! Next gen quick making a statement…
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 13, 2026
Joe Root – 17(36)
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 13, 2026
Harry Brook – 1(4)
Jordan Cox – 2(7)
Sam Curran – 0(7)
Liam Dawson – 0(6)
MAHLI BEARDMAN – JEEZ, WHAT A SPELL ON HIS ODI DEBUT AT PERTH 😍 pic.twitter.com/tJpe1H6zJ5
Mahli Beardman take a bow. Brilliant start to international cricket. #AUSvENG
— ktrimpie (@ktrimpie) November 13, 2026
England in absolute disarray in Perth. Mahli Beardman, the Australian debutant, has 5-13 and England are 60 for seven. Aussie cricket was in crisis about an hour ago
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 13, 2026
Outstanding stuff Mahli #AUSvENG
— Deep Longstop 🐶 🏏 (@deeplongstop) November 13, 2026
He's just come on and blown them away. Mahli Beardman showed really good traits in that India A series. Serious bowling this. He's developed far quicker than expected in a way. Some debut spell.
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) November 13, 2026
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