A week of quietly watching Australian cricket descend into civil war ended with smiles being wiped from English faces as a stunning debut from fast bowler Mahli Beardman consigned the tourists to an all-too-familiar hammering in Perth.
Victory in a low-key one-day international was never going to atone for the galling start to that failed Ashes campaign here 12 months ago. Nevertheless, England appeared better prepared, while their hosts were missing their big three fast bowlers and fighting sandpaper-related bushfires off the field.
And yet by 4.38pm local time – nine hours after Pat Cummins had finished his marathon takedown of Usman Khawaja’s autobiography in Sydney – Harry Brook’s side were 1-0 down once again. Rolled for 131 all out in just 33.4 overs, having found themselves 68 for eight at one stage, a seven-wicket loss was the upshot.
There was more than a touch of Cummins about their tormentor on the day, too, with Beardman claiming sparkling figures of six for 24 from 7.4 overs in his first ODI – a new national record, no less. Just 21 years old, but already touching 90mph on the speed gun, the Western Australian looks a serious prospect.
Like Cummins, Beardman has been mentored by the great Dennis Lillee and endured battles with a rebellious body along the way. Given the age profile of Australia’s greybeard Test attack, do not be surprised if he is handed a baggy green cap in the coming months and travels to England next year.
Beardman didn’t feast on over-ambitious strokeplay here but led a clinical demolition job that harnessed Perth’s bounce and movement after Mitch Marsh won the toss. Nicking off Harry Brook and Joe Root made for a pretty special start, with the pair among five catches for wicketkeeper Josh Inglis on the day.
You know conditions are tricky when Root struggles to get going and the 17 runs he scored in his 200th ODI – having been dropped on four – came in painstaking fashion. Gus Atkinson top-scored for England with 29, while 25 runs apiece for Tom Banton and Will Jacks was as good as it got among the top seven.
Ducks for Sam Curran and Liam Dawson sat at the other end of this unimpressive spectrum – Beardman the man to remove both – while Jamie Overton’s cross-batted top-edge on four handed Spencer Johnson a return catch amid the left-armer’s three for 42 from nine overs.
Having spent the previous day stonewalling questions about sandpaper, Marsh was never likely to take the same approach in the run chase. Travis Head was bowled by Atkinson for a golden duck – how England wish that had come a year earlier – but his opening partner’s incendiary 30-ball 50 meant that strike counted for little.
Player of the match was only heading one way after the target was knocked off with 165 balls to spare, however, young Beardman having earlier beamed under his little moustache when leading the hosts off at the change of innings. For all that this has been a damaging week for Australia, they appear to have found a gem.
Ali Martin’s full report to follow …
