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“It feels like he’s the real deal”: Could we could get our first glimpse at Australia’s next quick in BBL|14?
Lachlan Geleit, SEN • December 12th, 2024 6:43 pm
19-year-old Mahli Beardman might be Australia’s next great pace bowler.
It’s a big call for a player that’s only played one List A game, but clearly, Cricket Australia rate the West Australian having sent him over to England for a recent ODI series in September.
While Beardman didn’t play in that series and instead gained valuable experience training with the side, he’s already performed in the green and gold before, starring for Australia in the Under-19 World Cup.
The right-armer was named Player of the Match in the Final against India where he took 3/15. The last Australian to achieve that feat was none other than Josh Hazlewood in 2010.
According to those in the know, Beardman can bowl in excess of 140km/h already without even playing a First Class game, and while he’s only represented his state in a lone One Day fixture to this date, Andrew Tye thinks he could make an impact for the Perth Scorchers in BBL|14.
Speaking to SEN Cricket’s Adam White on SEN Afternoons, Tye said that he expects Beardman to be a fixture in WA cricket for a long time and he hopes that the youngster gets a chance with the Scorchers this season.
White: There’s a lot of talk around Mahli Beardman who went across to the UK as a sort of a standby player for Australia in those One Day Internationals.
“He's obviously starred for Australia at the under-19 level, it does feel like he's the real deal and that we could see a fair bit of him this year.”
Tye: “Yeah, I hope so.
“He's just continuing to grow his skills and develop as a cricketer.
“He can swing the ball, he can bowl slower balls and he’s also got the pace behind him.
“I think he's going to be a good player for WA and the Scorchers for a long time.
“Hopefully we get to see him this year, and for my benefit, who knows, it’ll be nice to have some young blood out there alongside me.”
Beardman will hope to make his BBL debut when the Scorchers face the Stars in the season opener at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Check out the speedster’s highlights from the 2023 Under-19 World Cup.
