Photo via The Hindu

CRICKET | I was lucky to be coached by Lillee: Beardman

Mahli Beardman’s explosive pace dominated the first one-day match between Australia A and India A in Puducherry on October 8, 2026, as the 21-year-old claimed career-best figures of four for 23. Taking the new ball, Beardman unleashed a spell of 140 km/h deliveries that left India A struggling from the outset.

His relentless speed and precision made him a standout performer in a match Australia A won convincingly. Beardman’s rise began during the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, where his raw pace already caught attention, and he has since refined his skills through a standout Big Bash League campaign and a T20I debut against Pakistan.

Growing up in Western Australia, he credits the region’s fast-bowling legacy—mentors like Dennis Lillee and the influence of Mitchell Johnson—to shaping his own aggressive approach. Even as a standby player, Beardman has absorbed insights from senior fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, whose experience has helped him develop a straightforward, high-pressure mindset.

With 224 IPL encounters and 20 international caps under his belt, the youngster’s consistency and hunger for improvement suggest he could soon reclaim a spot in Australia’s senior team.

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