Beardman takes six as Australia thrash England in first ODI

England were bowled out for 131 and lost the first one-day international to Australia by seven wickets in Perth, with debutant fast bowler Mahli Beardman taking 6-24. Australia reached their target with 26.3 overs to spare, leaving England needing a response in Sunday’s second match in Adelaide.

Beardman, 21, dismissed captain Harry Brook in his second over, then removed Joe Root, Tom Banton, Jordan Cox and Sam Curran during a five-over opening spell that brought him five wickets for 18 runs. He later took the wickets of Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer to complete the best figures by an Australian on ODI debut.

England’s total was 131 in 33.4 overs. Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson each made 29, the innings’ highest scores. Atkinson hit England’s only six. The side lost eight wickets for 65 before the lower order added some resistance.

Mitchell Marsh led Australia’s chase with 50 from 29 balls, hitting four sixes. After Travis Head fell for a first-ball duck, Marsh and Cooper Connolly, who made 27, helped put Australia in control. Josh Inglis and Matthew Renshaw completed the chase at 132-3.

The defeat adds to a difficult run for England, who lost to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a tri-series last month. They have now lost four of their past five matches, according to BBC Sport, as they build towards next year’s World Cup.

England’s batting collapse also echoed their struggles on the same Perth ground during last year’s Ashes. Several players were out driving, while Sam Curran top-edged a hook shot. The BBC noted that England have been bowled out 15 times in 29 ODIs since Brendon McCullum became coach; 11 of those dismissals came when England batted first.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Test Match Special that he did not see the same approach of simply trying to hit harder that had marked the team a year earlier, but called the errors on the pitch basic. Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody said England had not adjusted to the pace and bounce, and that a total of 230 to 250 would have been expected.

Australia rested senior fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, giving Beardman an opportunity. The second ODI is in Adelaide on Sunday at 03:30 GMT.