‌ENG vs AUS | Mahli Beardman en route to UK for Australia’s five-match ODI series

Australia have been plagued by several injuries in their bowling department with Bartlett being the latest of them. The right-arm pacer left the field during the first T20I with Cameron Green covering his over by bowling a couple of deliveries in the eighth over. This left the visitors without a spearhead in their second T20I against England as four pace bowling all-rounders - Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, and Aaron Hardie - constituted their pace bowling department. 

Bartlett caught up with a side strain while Nathan Ellis was pulled out of the tour after an exasperating injury caught in the Men’s Hundred during the recent Scotland tour. In addition, Riley Meredith and Spencer Johnson have incurred side issues and are on the road to recovery. Moreover, Josh Hazlewood was doubtful for the UK tour but played the first T20I after arriving late on site following a minor calf issue. Furthermore, he was rested for the second game of the series.

As a result, Beardman, who scalped a three-fer against India in the U19 World Cup final has been added to the mix. He has played just a solitary List A game for Western Australia against Sydney but is a part of the fast bowling group under Cricket Australia selectors’ radar along with Callum Vidler, Charlie Anderson, and Tom Straker. The Perth Scorchers snared him for the upcoming Big Bash League and it is going to be interesting to watch how he fares. 

It is also worth noting that Australia’s ODI squad against the English setup witnesses the return of Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, and Marnus Labuschagne.

Australia’s ODI squad vs England

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis (wk), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Traveling reserve: Mahli Beardman