Mahli Beardman has been rested for Australia’s second ODI against England at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, two days after his record-breaking six-wicket debut in Perth. Tasmanian quick Riley Meredith comes into the XI in the only change to the side, with Cricket Australia confirming Beardman will return for the series finale in Hobart on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old took 6-24 in Friday’s series opener at Optus Stadium, the best figures by an Australian on ODI debut, as England were bowled out for 131 and Australia won by seven wickets, cricket.com.au reported.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson said Beardman was continuing to “build capacity following recent injuries” and confirmed he would be back in the XI for the third ODI at Bellerive Oval.
Why Beardman is sitting out
Beardman recently spent seven months on the sidelines with a recurrence of a stress fracture following his T20 international debut, according to cricket.com.au, and Australia are managing his workload carefully on a 48-hour turnaround between matches.
“Mahli Beardman, young kid, tough to back up on 48 hours turnaround, he rests today,” Australian captain Mitch Marsh said after the toss, AAP reported.
Read more: Australia vs England 1st ODI: Mahli Beardman Debuts in Perth
Meredith straight into the XI
Meredith was added to the squad for the final two matches of the series and travelled to Adelaide after playing the first three days of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield loss to Queensland, where he took four wickets, cricket.com.au reported.
Marsh won the toss and sent England in to bat, saying Australia were happy to chase under lights.
“It’s no secret we like to chase, we know the wicket stays really good here in Adelaide,” Marsh said. “Hopefully we can get the most out it of early and then chase it down under lights.”
England captain Harry Brook said his side would also have bowled first, ESPNcricinfo reported.
“We would have bowled. We’ve got to do both aspects of the game so we’ll have to bat well first,” Brook said. “We’ve had some conversations and got to be a bit more positive.”
The teams
England made one change, with Sonny Baker replacing Jamie Overton, while Liam Dawson again got the nod ahead of Adil Rashid as the frontline spinner.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Riley Meredith.
England: Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Jofra Archer.
Ellis out of the T20 series
Paceman Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the five-match T20 series against England that follows the ODIs, having not fully recovered from the side strain he suffered on the tour of South Africa in September, cricket.com.au reported.
Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis replaces Ellis in the T20 squad. The T20 series starts at the MCG on Saturday 21 November.
Read more: Marnus Labuschagne Dropped for New Zealand Test Series
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