Mahli Beardman took 6 for 24 on ODI debut, and England were all out for 131 in Perth
The 21-year-old has the best figures by an Australian man on ODI debut, and Australia chased 132 inside 24 overs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
Nov 13, 2026
Mahli Beardman did not get the new ball in Perth on Friday. He came on in the 10th over, bowled a maiden, and by the time England were all out for 131 he had 6 for 24 from 7.4 overs on his ODI debut.
Those are the best figures by an Australian man on ODI debut. The previous mark was Tony Dodemaide’s 5 for 21 in 1988, and until Friday he was the only Australian man to take five wickets in his first ODI. Australia then knocked off the 132 they needed in 23.3 overs to win by seven wickets, with 159 balls to spare, and lead the three-match series 1-0.
From 38 for 2 to 60 for 7
Mitchell Marsh chose to bowl on a quick, bouncy Perth Stadium pitch, and England’s openers never settled. Spencer Johnson had Ben Duckett caught for 9, and Xavier Bartlett found Tom Banton’s edge for 25.
Then Beardman took over. His first wicket was the England captain, Harry Brook, caught behind by Josh Inglis for 1. Joe Root, playing his 200th ODI, had scratched his way to 17 off 36 balls when he edged a full ball that left him. Jordan Cox went the same way, Sam Curran was caught off a short ball, and Liam Dawson was caught at backward point. England had gone from 38 for 2 to 60 for 7 in under nine overs.
Inglis held three of the catches off Beardman, and Johnson took 3 for 42. At 65 for 8, England were in danger of falling below their lowest ODI total against Australia, 86 at Manchester in 2001. Will Jacks (25) and Gus Atkinson put on 37 for the ninth wicket to keep them clear of that, and Atkinson was left unbeaten on 29 when Beardman had Jofra Archer caught to end it in the 34th over.
“I’m not really sure what’s just happened,” Beardman said afterwards. He admitted he was “pretty nervous early”. The 21-year-old’s only previous international game was a T20I in Lahore in January, and a back stress injury kept him out for seven months after it.
Marsh finishes it quickly
Atkinson struck with his first ball, Travis Head dragging it onto his stumps for a golden duck. That was as good as it got for England. Marsh hit four sixes, reached 50 off 29 balls and was caught at deep square off Jamie Overton the next ball he faced, for 50 off 30.
Cooper Connolly made 27 before hitting Archer to backward point, and Inglis (23 not out) and Matt Renshaw (26 not out) saw Australia home in the 24th over.
England picked Dawson ahead of Adil Rashid and did not bowl him at all, which will not end the argument about their spin choice. They have two days to sort out the batting before the second ODI in Adelaide on Sunday, 15 November. The series finishes in Hobart on 18 November, and five T20Is follow.