Western Australian paceman Mahli Beardman is in line for his ODI debut against England this month after Australia opted to rest their leading Test quicks and were left without the injured Nathan Ellis.
Beardman has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads for the home series. The selectors have given the green light to the exciting speedster following strong performances on the Australia A tour of India, where his pace troubled a strong India A batting line-up.
Australia will be without Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and ODI captain Pat Cummins for the three-match ODI series (13, 15 and 18 November in Perth, Adelaide and Hobart). The trio have been given a short de-load period after playing all three Tests in South Africa. Ellis remains sidelined with a side strain suffered on that tour and will only be available for the T20Is that follow.
Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson will lead the seam attack alongside Beardman, with Jack Edwards and the recalled Liam Scott providing support. Adam Zampa is the sole spinner selected. Tim David has been left out of the ODI squad despite recently returning to List A cricket, though he retains his place in the T20I group.
The T20I squad has a distinctly second-string look. Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Cameron Green have all been rested ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. That has opened the door for maiden international call-ups for wicketkeeper-batters Sam Harper and Lachlan Shaw, while Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mitchell Owen earn recalls.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey explained the thinking: “We are in the middle of a highly demanding phase of our schedule. Our multi-format players are transitioning directly from the tour of South Africa into an ODI and T20 series, leaving a narrow window to ensure the squad is physically prepared and fresh for the upcoming New Zealand Test series.”
Bailey was particularly complimentary of Beardman, saying his recent form for Australia A had been “impressive” and that the selectors believe he can develop into an all-format player.
Fraser-McGurk returns after strong domestic form, while Owen is back for the first time since being omitted from the T20 World Cup squad. Harper, the reigning BBL Player of the Season, and the powerful Shaw complete a fresh-looking T20 group.
Australia ODI squad vs England:
Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Adam Zampa
Australia T20I squad vs England:
Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Owen, Lachlan Shaw, Adam Zampa