Australia vs England in the first ODI at Perth Stadium will feature a hometown debut for 21-year-old fast bowler Mahli Beardman, with captain Mitch Marsh confirming his selection for Friday’s series opener.
Marsh confirmed Beardman’s inclusion at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, but said Australia would wait until the toss to name their full XI, cricket.com.au reported. First ball in the day-night match is at 2:30pm AEDT (11:30am AWST).
“He’s an amazing talent, a ripping young kid; an easy one for me being West Australian, he’s straight in,” Marsh said, “but looking forward to seeing him out on a fast and bouncy Perth Stadium wicket.”
“For a young kid, he really understands his game early on (in his career). He loves to bowl fast, he’s always on record saying that all he wants to do is bowl fast, and that’s an attitude that you can’t always teach.”
Beardman back from back injury
Beardman took 2-33 on his T20 international debut against Pakistan in Lahore in January, then spent seven months recovering from a back stress injury. He returned for Western Australia in September and took five wickets in two matches for Australia A in India last month, including 4-23.
Read more: Marnus Labuschagne Dropped for New Zealand Test Series
New-look Australian attack
Australia are without Test quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who have been left out to stay fresh for the Test summer, while Nathan Ellis is still recovering from a side strain, cricket.com.au noted.
That leaves Xavier Bartlett, with 23 wickets in 12 ODIs, to lead the pace attack alongside Spencer Johnson and Beardman. Cameron Green is no certainty to bowl after a shoulder complaint, with allrounders Liam Scott and Jack Edwards also in the squad.
England team news
England lost Jacob Bethell on the eve of the series after a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, with James Coles and Eddie Jack called up. Josh Tongue has also gone home with a toe injury.
Jofra Archer returns for the tourists, while captain Harry Brook arrives in form after hitting 202 off 116 balls against Sri Lanka last month, the fastest double-century in ODI history.
Possible XIs
Australia: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Renshaw, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman.
England: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid.
Australia vs England ODI series 2026
Australia have won six of their past eight bilateral ODI series against England, including the last three. England’s most recent series win over Australia was a 5-0 sweep in June 2018.
The second ODI is at Adelaide Oval on Sunday 15 November and the third at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Wednesday 18 November, both starting at 2:30pm AEDT. Five T20 internationals follow, starting at the MCG on Saturday 21 November.
The match is on Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket, with the first innings free on Kayo Freebies.
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