Mahil Beardman gets a chance (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Mahali Beardman: Can even a dustbin change a player’s fortunes? This may not happen, but the story of Australia’s emerging fast bowler Mahil Beardman is something similar. If the dustbin incident had not become a part of his life, perhaps he would not have met his mentor Dennis Lillee nor would he have got the opportunity to wear the Australian team jersey. But, the dustbin that came into Mahil Beardman’s life at the age of 14, proved to be a lifesaver for his career.
Mahil Beardman can debut
Mahil Beardman has been selected in Australia’s team for the T20 series against India. This is the second time that he has been selected in the senior team of Australia. Earlier, in the year 2024, he got a place in the team as a reserve player for the 5 ODI series against England. Beardman did not get a chance to play against England. But, it is expected that the 6 feet, 2 inches tall 20 year old Beardman may make his international debut through the T20 series against India.
Dustbin incident became part of career
Now the question is how did Mahil Beardman travel to the senior Australian team? So it started with the story of the dustbin. This happened when Beardman was only 14 years old. His age was definitely raw, but the speed of Mahil Beardman’s balls was that of a mature bowler even at that age. At that time he used to bowl at 130 KM/H.
Now what happened was that Mahil Beardman was playing cricket outside his friend’s house. There he bowled such fast balls that they went straight and repeatedly landed in the dustbin kept outside his friend’s house. Now the friend’s father felt that someone was repeatedly throwing garbage in his dustbin. In such a situation, he called the then working officer Rod Duggan to complain about him. Rod Duggan understood the matter and told Dennis Lillee about Beardman. This is how Mahil Beardman met his mentor Dennis Lillee.
20 months ago when India was given pain like this
After meeting Dennis Lillee, Beardman started his journey of playing for the Australian team by working on his bowling skills. He made his List A debut in the year 2023. A few weeks later, he was selected for the Under-19 ODI World Cup, where he was the player of the match in the final. In that final played in February 2024, Mahil Beardman took 3 wickets for India giving 15 runs. By winning that match by 79 runs, Australia ended its 14-year long wait for the title in the Under-19 ODI World Cup.
Mahil Beardman’s speed vs Team India
After 20 months of giving pain to India’s Under-19 team, now 20-year-old Mahil Beardman is once again facing Team India. Players like Sam Constas, Harjas Singh, who played with him in the Under-19 World Cup, have made a lot of headlines recently. Now it is the turn of Mahil Beardman, whose speed is currently 140 plus.