Mahli Beardman, a 19-year-old fast bowler, has been named as a standby player for Australia's ODI series against England. Beardman’s selection follows his standout performance in the under-19 World Cup final against India in February.
He has played just one senior professional match.
Australia's leading fast bowlers, including Pat Cummins, will miss the series in England, which has little significance. Injuries have also sidelined several other pacers such as Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis. Beardman’s call-up, despite his limited experience, has surprised many in Australia.
Capable of bowling over 140 km/hr, Beardman has been mentored by Dennis Lillee, a former Australian pace icon.
Beardman expressed his disbelief at the selection call from one of Australia’s selectors.
"I started the morning off with a little message from Tony (Dodemaide)," he said, as quoted by Reuters. "I didn't think it was real, to be honest, I thought it might have been one of the boys pranking me."
If no injuries occur among the bowlers in the squad, Beardman may not get to play in the five-match series starting on Thursday. However, this selection indicates that the selectors are considering the future as senior bowlers like Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc age.
Reflecting on his promotion, Beardman said he was eager to learn from Australia's experienced pace bowlers.
"Mitch Starc and 'Hoff' (Hazlewood), it's just unbelievable knowledge and an invaluable experience, so I can't wait to get over there and soak up as much knowledge as possible," he said.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment