Australia beat England by seven wickets in first ODI in Perth
Mahli Beardman took six wickets on his debut as England were dismissed for 131. Australia chased the target with more than 26 overs to spare.
Key points
- Australia won the first ODI in Perth by seven wickets, according to BBC Sport.
- England were bowled out for 131 in 33.4 overs.
- Mahli Beardman, 21, took 6-24 on his ODI debut, the finest figures any Australian has recorded on an ODI debut.
- Mitchell Marsh scored 50 from 29 balls as Australia reached 132-3.
- The series continues in Adelaide this Sunday, with game two of three.
England were bowled out for 131 in 33.4 overs and lost the first one-day international in Perth by seven wickets, according to BBC Sport. Australia reached 132 for three in 23.3 overs, with more than 26 overs left unused. The result gave Australia a welcome distraction from the continuing sandpaper controversy.
The star of the match was 21-year-old fast bowler Mahli Beardman. He took 6-24 on his ODI debut and dismissed Harry Brook, Joe Root, Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran and Liam Dawson. Those figures are the finest any Australian has recorded on a one-day international debut. He also took the wicket of Jofra Archer later in England’s innings.
A familiar collapse
England slumped to 65 for 8 at one stage, with few runs on the board. Banton’s 25 was one of only three scores above 20. Gus Atkinson finished unbeaten on 29, while Will Jacks made 25 in brief resistance.
Commentators said England’s batters made basic errors on a pitch that offered pace and bounce. Several dismissals were similar to England’s poor start in last winter’s Ashes series on the same ground, according to BBC Sport. Former England captain Michael Vaughan, speaking on Test Match Special, said the side was trying but needed to improve quickly. Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody said England had failed to adjust to the conditions early in their innings.
Australia’s chase
Australia’s chase was never seriously in doubt. Travis Head was out for a first-ball duck, but captain Mitchell Marsh hit 50 from 29 balls, including four sixes. Cooper Connolly added 27. Josh Inglis and Matthew Renshaw then saw Australia home without losing more wickets.
Australia rested several senior bowlers, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Their absence gave Beardman his chance. Bartlett, aged 27, also stood out when the ball was new.
Why the result matters
The match came amid a debate over the sandpaper scandal, which has resurfaced after comments in a new book by Usman Khawaja. On the day of the match, David Warner accused Cummins of throwing Khawaja under the bus on Australian TV coverage.
England have dropped four of their previous five matches. Last month they lost to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a three-team competition, and they are trying to prepare for next year’s World Cup. Game two of the three-match series is in Adelaide this Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the standout player in the first ODI?
Fast bowler Mahli Beardman took 6-24 on his ODI debut, according to BBC Sport. He dismissed several England batters, including Harry Brook and Joe Root.
When is the next ODI between England and Australia?
The next game is in Adelaide this Sunday, and it is the second of three matches in the series, according to BBC Sport. The start time is 03:30 GMT.
What is the sandpaper scandal?
The sandpaper scandal is a long-running controversy about ball tampering in Australian cricket. Talk of it continued around this match after comments in a new book by Usman Khawaja.
Sources
- BBC Sport: England thrashed by Australia in first ODI
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
