Last Updated on 1 day by Charbel Coorey
Australia have selected talented pace bowler Mahli Beardman for games 3-5 of the T20I series against India. The 20-year-old was somewhat of a surprise pick given he has played just five List A and two Big Bash League (BBL) matches. However, he is very highly rated and considered one of the excellent up-and-coming fast bowlers in the country.
Beardman has previously been selected on an international tour, joining the Australian squad as cover during their white-ball tour of England in September 2024. He didn’t feature in any of the matches, but the experience he gained has proved invaluable so far.
“To have the honour to fly over and hang around the squad and soak up that environment, is so unexpected and surreal for me,” he said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
Mahli Beardman: Australia U19 star a chance of making his senior international debut
Mahli Beardman, born in Dunsborough Western Australia, was part of the Australian team that won the U19 World Cup in 2024. He played a pivotal role, taking 10 wickets in the tournament including 3/15 in the final against India. He was awarded player of the match for his brilliant performance.
The fast bowler’s talents were already well known in Australian circles. He had played a List A game before that U19 World Cup. He made his Western Australia debut as an 18-year-old in late 2023.
Beardman, who is mentored by the great Dennis Lillee, can bowl at up to 145km/h. He has a goal of reaching the magical 150km/h mark.
“I think there’s still a lot of things that I can change in my action that can get me an extra little yard of pace,” Beardman said in March 2024, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “I think there’s a long way for me to go in the gym to get more strength, so I definitely think I can hit the magical 150 mark.”
The 20-year-old has had a love of fast bowling since a young age. Mitchell Johnson’s performance in the 2013-14 Ashes spurred him on further. A few years later, he was bowling at 115km/h at 12 years of age playing on astro turf pitches in Dampier, a remote town in northern Western Australia.
“I think seeing what Mitchell Johnson did in that series changed my whole mindset of the sport,” Beardman said.
“I decided pace bowling is what I wanted to do. But from a young age I was surrounded by really good coaches who helped with my action and understanding how to bowl fast.”
Kerry O’Keeffe is a fan. “I like Mahli Beardman, the 20-year-old Western Australian who’s working with Dennis Lillee,” said O’Keeffe to this publication. “I think his numbers are exceptional already. He’s only played a handful of games, but there’s something about Mahli Beardman. He made an Australia squad. I think they tagged him along. They see him as a future player.”
Beardman has indeed made a strong start to the 2025/26 season. He has taken 11 wickets in four One Day Cup matches, with figures of 4/46 against South Australia, 2/22 against Queensland, 3/48 against New South Wales and 2/55 against Tasmania.
