Last Updated on 9 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Promising fast bowler Mahli Beardman is “ready to go out and play some good cricket again” as he pours some cold water over calls that he is next in line to replace Australia’s long-standing Test pace attack.
Beardman’s focus in recent months has been building his body up to where it needs to be after a recurrence of a stress fracture in his lower back. He was excellent for the Perth Scorchers in their triumphant BBL campaign, including getting the better of Steve Smith in the finals. The 21-year-old then impressed on T20I debut in Pakistan where he took 2/33, before injury ended his season.
“The timing of it was pretty rough,” Beardman said this week, as quoted by Cricinfo.
“I feel like I was feeling quite nice at the back of the Big Bash. It was just one of those things… I think it’s understanding my body as I’m growing and developing.
“It was extremely frustrating, but I’m super fortunate to be able to come back. Spent a good four or five months in the gym and built my body up.”
He returned to action in the Australia One Day Cup in September, playing two matches for Western Australia. He then played two One-Day matches for Australia A against India A in Puducherry, where he took five wickets including 4/23 in the first game.
Mahli Beardman focused on playing consistent cricket rather than any talk of Tests at this stage
The 21-year-old is gearing up to play for Western Australia against England on Saturday ahead of the ODI series which begins on November 13. He is in line to make his ODI debut, and Beardman knows that solid performances will hold him in good stead.
“The selection is well above my head, so if that opportunity arrives, I’ll try and grab it with both hands,” Beardman said. “I feel like I’m ready to go out and play some good cricket again.”
Beardman’s recent back injury put the brakes on a possible Sheffield Shield debut. Building solid bowling loads is key for success in red-ball cricket, and the fast bowler is working towards that.
“It can be tough not to see things or read into stuff,” Beardman said of the speculation around his Test credentials. “Whether that’s for WA or Australia, whatever it is, I think it’s just getting through each game and trying to build momentum off that.
“It’s [red-ball cricket] still at the forefront of my mind, it’s just prioritising getting back, playing cricket first, proving my fitness and that my body can handle it.
“It’s a tough one to plan [Shield cricket]. It is just a game-by-game thing at the moment. There hasn’t been a set date, so I’m actually not too sure as to when that is. It’s just to prove after each game that I’m getting through OK, that I’m not reporting any symptoms or soreness.”
Beardman has long been mentored by Australian great Dennis Lillee. He regularly bowls above 140km/h and feels he can increase his pace even further.
“I think the goal is as high as I can go,” Beardman said. “I don’t think there’s a number, I still feel like I’ve got a decent way to go.”
