Rising star “Mahli Beardman blew England away” on his international debut in Perth, according to The Independent.
The 21-year-old claimed figures of six for 24 as England was bowled out for just 131 in a seven-wicket thrashing during the first One Day International, per sports reporting.
Harry Brook and Joe Root served as the bowler’s first two international scalps in Perth.
Beardman has been tipped for big things since being named player of the match in the Under-19 World Cup final two years ago, the articles noted.
After putting the tourists to the sword, the debutant thanked Australian greats Dennis Lillee and Mitchell Johnson for helping him reach the top.
“DK has been amazing for me,” Beardman said of Lillee.
The young fast bowler currently plays domestic cricket for Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, having made his List-A debut in November 2023.
The match marked a dispiriting return to Optus Stadium for England and head coach Brendon McCullum.
The contest arrived almost exactly a year since England’s two-day loss at the start of the 2025/26 Ashes.
“We probably knew we were in for a low-scoring contest, but we expected to get a few more runs than 131,” McCullum told TNT Sports.
England faces a quick turnaround as the squad flies on to Adelaide for Sunday’s second ODI without time to fit in a net session, according to the coverage.