‘Absolutely ready’: Inside rise of rapid Aussie ‘wildcard’ – and why he could be the real deal

Mahli Beardman was cruising down the Kwinana Freeway, pumping some drum and bass to help him “get in the zone” for a Perth Scorchers media appearance, when George Bailey’s name popped up on the dashboard.

“We got chatting for a while, I was wondering what was going on,” Beardman recalled.

“Then he told me the news.”

The chief selector informed Beardman that he had been added to Australia’s T20 squad to face reigning world champions India, a phone call that caught the 20-year-old by surprise. The fledgling tearaway, who also earned a shock call-up for last year’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, hadn’t played any 20-over cricket since January, while he only has five List A matches under his belt.

Despite the inexperience, he will join the national squad ahead of Sunday’s third T20 in Hobart, replacing superstar seamer Josh Hazlewood for the remainder of the series.

“It’s very surreal,” Beardman continued.

“It was super out of the blue, but an absolute honour.”

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Beardman, born and raised in the country town of Cowaramup, headlines an exciting crop of young cricketers who helped Australia win the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa last year. Sam Konstas has already made a name for himself in the Test arena, while the likes of Harry Dixon, Callum Vidler and Tom Straker are turning heads at domestic level.

Even Harjas Singh, who top-scored in the final against India, made headlines last month for his record-breaking triple-century in Sydney grade cricket.

But what makes Beardman stand out from the others is his pace – and he has plenty of it, already clocking 148km/h on the speed gun.

“Still chasing that 150 mark,” he laughed.

“Not quite there yet, still got a little way to go.”

Beardman, who claims he’s still in the midst of a growth spurt, believes he has the potential to get even faster following a “few more pre-seasons in the gym”.

“That’s the plan, put a bit more size on, get a bit stronger,” he continued.

“There are technical things that I’ll be working on to try and increase my pace a little bit.”

‘THIS KID’S ABSOLUTELY PEPPERING MY BIN’

Beardman fell in love with cricket playing at the local nets with his mates after school, spending up to four hours a day there.

In Cowaramup, which has a population of just over 2000, there’s only one cricket team and one football team; no divisions, no grades and no under-age squads.

“That’s when cricket’s at its most beautiful,” Beardman reminisced.

“It was a blessing being down there and just enjoying the game in its most simple form.”

Beardman was a small kid, but even at the age of 14 he was reaching speeds of 130km/h. One day, while playing cricket down the side alley of a mate’s house, the sporadic whack of balls thudding into the garbage bins caught the attention of his friend’s father, winemaker Max Montgomery, who phoned the now-retired Rod Duggan and told him, “This kid’s absolutely peppering my bin down the side of the house.”

Duggan relayed the information to cricket legend Dennis Lillee.

It took some convincing, but Lillee reluctantly agreed to meet Beardman for a net session in South Perth – and they’ve been in touch almost every week across the five years since.

“I try to use him as much as possible,” Beardman said of his mentor.

“I stay in touch with him most weeks, send through footage or even a general chat about the game.

“Obviously it’s a wealth of knowledge and experience to have in my corner.”

Lillee typically doesn’t work with kids, preferring to coach bowlers who have already grown into their bodies and developed their action.

But for Beardman, he made an exception.

“He’s pretty selective with who he works with,” Beardman continued.

“He said he wasn’t going to work with anyone until they were 18.”

Lillee lauded Beardman’s credentials while chatting to former national teammate Kerry O’Keeffe earlier this year, praising his trajectory and ability to move the ball away from right-handers.

“I spoke to Dennis a few months ago. He likes him,” O’Keeffe revealed to Fox Cricket.

“He gets it down and up … he’s not flat. Some of the (other) quick bowlers they’re touting, there’s a flatness to them. Beardman is not flat. He bowls loop.”

Loop, typically associated with spin bowlers, is the ability to generate vertical movement through the air, getting the ball to dip before shooting off the deck. According to O’Keeffe, it’s what differentiates Beardman from other young quicks across the country.

“I always look at fast bowlers from a loop point of view,” O’Keeffe explained.

“(Glenn) McGrath had loop straight away. He wasn’t quick.

“Not that I’m a prophet, but you just know.”

WORLD CUP HERO TO AUSSIE SQUAD IN EIGHT MONTHS

After moving to Perth during his teens, Beardman started working his way through the West Australian pathways program. Early on, there were murmurs about his budding potential.

“He’s been on the radar from a young age,” West Australian bowling coach Tim MacDonald told Fox Cricket.

“The whispers were that he was going to be a pretty good player.”

Beardman made his List A debut in November 2023 aged 18, facing New South Wales for a One-Day Cup match in Sydney. His first professional wicket was an unusual one, with Blues veteran Moises Henriques slapping a straight drive into his teammate’s body at the non-striker’s end, with a simple catch ballooning towards mid-on.

A few weeks later, Beardman earned selection for the Under-19 World Cup campaign in South Africa, where he claimed 10 wickets at 10.50 across six games. He was named player of the final after taking 3-15 from seven overs against India in Benoni, helping Australia win its first title in 14 years.

For Beardman, it remains a career highlight.

“That was one of the greatest things, cricketing-wise, I’ve been a part of,” he said.

“That whole group is so special. I think we’re going to see a lot of Australian cricketers come out of that group.

“To be able to spend seven weeks over there with those boys, they’re some of my favourite memories I’ve created in cricket.”

The national selectors seemingly liked what they saw. In September last year, Beardman was inserted in Australia’s ODI squad as an injury replacement for a white-ball tour against England, at which stage he still only had one List A wicket to his name.

Although he didn’t make his Australian debut in the United Kingdom, Beardman got the opportunity to spend a fortnight alongside Starc and Hazlewood, picking their brains about the craft of fast bowling.

“Starcy and Hoff were incredible last year,” Beardman said.

“They were an open book and gave me plenty to go home and think about.”

THE SCORCHERS PACE CARTEL

Beardman made his Big Bash League debut for the Scorchers last summer, taking 3-17 during January’s clash against the Adelaide Strikers at Perth Stadium. After knocking over Alex Ross, he bumped out Harry Manenti and Brendan Doggett to help the hosts seal a five-wicket triumph, aided by the venue’s bouncy deck.

“We’re pretty lucky, over being in the west, that the bounce is just something that happens naturally,” Beardman said.

“I don’t think I’ve really had to force a bouncer in my life, to be honest.”

The Scorchers squad is packed with experienced quicks that have taken Beardman under their wing – West Australian veteran AJ Tye has provided some tips on slower balls while Ashes hopeful Jhye Richardson, being a similar style of bowler, has also been willing to share his knowledge with the youngster.

“Everyone’s actually been amazing, each person giving their own little hints,” Beardman said.

“They’ve all got their own skill-sets and I’ve just tried to take something away from each one.”

MacDonald applauded Beardman’s ability to absorb information from teammates, comparing his natural bowling action to that of Richardson and former Australian all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile.

“There’s probably some Pat Cummins about the way that he bowls the cricket ball; he’s one of those wiry, whippy, athletic, bouncy quicks,” MacDonald said.

“He’s not overly tall, but he makes up for that with ball speed and the skill that he’s got.”

Beardman’s bowling action has also drawn comparisons to Australian Test captain Pat Cummins, another player who was mentored by Lillee; both possess a similar load-up and whippy release.

“I think my natural action was quite similar to Pat’s in his early days,” Beardman said.

“As I’ve grown up, I’ve definitely tried to emulate certain aspects of his bowling.

“He’s obviously such an incredible cricketer and I do try to take as much away from him as possible.”

BEARDMAN’S LOOMING JUGGLING ACT

Since taking career-best List A figures of 4-46 against South Australia at the WACA in February, Beardman has battled some minor injury setbacks that have interrupted his development. Ahead of this season, national selectors encouraged him to continue building his loads and strengthening his body so he can eventually be available for first-class cricket.

The rising star’s next challenge will be keeping fit without sacrificing his biggest weapon – speed. It’s a delicate juggling act, a problem many young fast bowlers have encountered early in their careers.

While focusing on his load management, he knows how damaging it can be to bowl as fast as he can in a growing body.

“Your bone density drops significantly when you start growing, then obviously trying to run in and bowl 145km/h on top of that isn’t a very good thing,” Beardman explained.

“It has been hard. WA Cricket have been amazing with their load management, so I’m in good hands.”

MacDonald has helped Beardman tinker with his bowling action to prevent further injury, acknowledging he was previously putting a lot of strain on his lumbar region.

“His lower back was crunching pretty hard at a time when it was still growing and his bones were still widening,” MacDonald explained.

“He’s taking a little bit of pressure off that, trying to make his action a bit more efficient – but at the same time you don’t want to lose his natural attributes, his natural swing and his natural pace.

“He’s had to shift some of the mechanics in his action to make it a little bit safer and repeatable so that he can actually stay on the park a bit longer.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how fast you are, if you’re not on the park you obviously can’t show everyone how good you are.”

‘THAT’S BEEN THE GOAL SINCE I WAS A KID’

After earning a full state contract, Beardman got his 2025/26 summer underway by taking 3-48 in a white-ball match against New South Wales at the WACA, snaring another two wickets during a recent One-Day Cup contest against Tasmania in Hobart. He currently averages 16.60 with the ball across all formats for Western Australia and the Scorchers.

Asked if he was prepared to take on India, the world’s No. 1-ranked side, Beardman declared he was “absolutely ready”.

“On paper, you look at (the Indian team), it’s almost a little bit daunting,” he said.

“But I feel like I’m going to be as ready as I’ll ever be.

“I feel like I’m in a really good space at the moment, and if an opportunity comes my way, I want to do everything I can to take it with both hands.”

McDonald agreed, but cautioned that Beardman was still “a work in progress”.

“He’s a competitor, he’s got the skill, I’d back him to be able to do that on the high stage,” McDonald declared.

“He’s played in front of big crowds now. He’s played in pressure situations.

“It’ll be a really good experience for him if he does get a chance.”

With Australia preparing to embark on a period of transition – Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Usman Khawaja, Starc and Hazlewood are approaching the twilight of their careers – national selectors will need to start the process of blooding the country’s next generation of cricket stars.

Aside from Australia’s ‘big four’, the fast bowlers in contention for an Ashes call-up this summer – Brendan Doggett, Sean Abbott and Michael Neser – are no spring chickens themselves, each in their thirties.

It’s why former O’Keeffe wants Beardman fast-tracked into the national side.

“It would be really good for Australian cricket to have an exciting young fast bowler,” O’Keeffe said.

“If you talk to the man in the street, they know what Neser brings, they know what Doggett brings, they know what Abbott can bring. They’re all very fine bowlers.

“But is it time, given that transition is close, to put a little wildcard in?”

Australian fans will also be relieved to know that for Beardman, Test cricket remains the pinnacle. The dream has always been donning a baggy green.

If everything goes to plan, he’ll be playing Sheffield Shield cricket by the end of the season.

“That’s been the goal since I was a kid, you dream of playing a Boxing Day Test with a baggy green on your head,” he said.

“I’m still a little while away from where I need to be loading-wise. I still have to convince the physios that I’m fit and available.

“Hopefully at the back-end of the season, I can start to target a little bit more red-ball and go from there.”

The third T20 between Australia and India gets underway at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval on Sunday at 7.15pm AEDT.

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