How would you celebrate after posting record bowling figures on a debut aged just 21?

If you’re Mahli Beardman, now the most exciting fast bowler in Australian cricket, it’s easy: “Try and get down to the beach!”

In his maiden one-day international, which was also his first match for Australia on home soil, Beardman took 6-24 – the best figures by an Australian on a one-day debut.

In doing so, the man who loves surfing swept aside England and set up a crushing victory in Perth.

“I would love to live my life like him – pretty carefree, loves the ocean and loves to learn about fast bowling,” beamed proud captain and fellow Western Australian Mitchell Marsh.

With the nonchalance of youth and a flash of the future, Beardman was the perfect antidote during this moment of crisis for Australia.

To him, sandpaper is merely used to clean up his surfboard.

However, he has been made to wait for this moment and has had his troubles.

Two years ago, and with only one professional match to his name, he toured England with Australia’s white-ball teams after an impressive Under-19 World Cup.

He did not play but bowling spells during intervals – his blond hair billowing behind him – felt like a glimpse into Australia and England’s Ashes future.

Watching Mitchell Johnson tear apart England in the 2013-14 Ashes inspired Beardman to take up cricket, while he has worked with Dennis Lillee, another Australian Ashes legend, since his teenage years.

Add in accuracy, zip and effortless pace, and all of the ingredients appear to be there.

But in 2025 he suffered the first of two stress injuries in his back – the scourge of the young fast bowler.

The second of those came after his one previous Australia appearance to date – a T20 in Pakistan in January, in which he returned figures of 2-33.

Two weeks earlier he had dismissed and unsettled Australia great Steve Smith in a Big Bash play-off match which had built momentum further.

“There is always doubt,” he said after his match-winning performance on Friday.

“I don’t think I ever lost my love for the game, it was more ‘Will I come back and be able to bowl the same and will the air speed be there?'”

After a carefully managed return, those questions were emphatically answered in Perth – where he has played all of his domestic cricket to date.

Across 7.4 overs, Beardman averaged 86.5 mph – his quickest match on record. His fastest delivery was clocked at 90.6mph, again his best effort on record.

Most impressive was his control of line and length, however. Rarely was there a ball there for England to hit.

He moved the ball in and out, not a lot but enough – enough to find Harry Brook’s outside edge for his first ODI wicket at the start of his second over.

“After I got the first wicket, Zamps [spinner Adam Zampa] ran up, tapped me on the back and said ‘keep a level head, mate’,” Beardman said.

“That helped calm the adrenaline a little bit.”

After that, Joe Root edged a drive and Jordan Cox tentatively nicked off. A bouncer to Sam Curran, which the England all-rounder hooked to fine leg, showed Beardman has the skills to unsettle a batter too.

“He bowled lively, got it to swing both ways, and his control was immaculate,” former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody told BBC Test Match Special. “I don’t think his heart rate went up much.”

It points to Beardman’s inexperience that Friday’s ODI was the first time Moody – as astute an operator as there is in franchise cricket – had watched the young quick in the flesh.

This international was his 12th professional 50-over game to go along with 14 T20s. His first-class debut remains much anticipated.

“I’ve seen him in the Big Bash and he just has that persona,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan.

“Sometimes you look at sportspeople and say ‘yes, they have got it’.

“It’s hard to explain what they have got. It’s the way he strolls around. He is playing the game like it’s his club side.

“If he stays fit, he has an incredible career ahead of him.”