Teenage pace sensation Mahli Beardman will get her first senior experience in national colors after being named as a standby for Australia’s ODI squad.
Beardman, who was man of the match in this year’s U19 World Cup final triumph over India, will join the 17-man squad in Nottingham as the tourists face depleted pace stocks due to injury and management.
Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis joined the squad ahead of the washed-out third T20 in Manchester and will now remain for the five-match 50-over series starting on Thursday (9.30pm AEST) at Trent Bridge.
Cooper Connolly, who made his T20 international debut against Scotland and featured in the second T20 game against England, will also remain with the ODI squad which was initially named only for the T20s.
Australia’s ODI squad against England: Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa. Reserve: Mahli Beardman
Experienced players Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey return for the 50-over matches.
Australia have already lost Nathan Ellis to a hamstring injury ahead of the Scotland series, Riley Meredith played just one game after experiencing side soreness and Xavier Bartlett was ruled out of the tour on Friday after suffering a side strain in the series opener at Southampton.
Pat Cummins is missing from the month-long white-ball tour to focus on strength and fitness ahead of the five-Test home summer against India, while Starc has only joined the squad this week after sitting out the T20s.
Josh Hazlewood is also being carefully managed after a calf complaint saw him miss the Scotland series and was rested after the three-wicket loss to England in Cardiff on Friday.
Left-armer Spencer Johnson received a side-load after being named in the T20 squad, while West Australian speedsters Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris were not considered as they are carefully managed following a string of injuries.
Will Sutherland, who made his ODI debut in February, also spent another off-season rehabilitating a back stress-related injury.
Dwarshuis will be the fourth specialist paceman in the ODI series alongside Starc, Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, supported by all-rounders Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie and captain Mitch Marsh.
“There will be opportunities for guys throughout the series, no doubt,” Marsh told cricket.com.au after the drawn T20 series.
“Five games in 11 days, we have to juggle a bit, but guys will get opportunities and a lot like the T20 series, we’re really excited about it.”
Beardman and Connolly have been on the Australian bench for Perth matches for the past two summers as part of Cricket Australia’s under-19 induction program.
The 19-year-old raw talent can reach speeds in excess of 140km/h but has so far played just one List A game for WA. He took 3-15 to help Australia’s U19s beat India in the World Cup final in February.
“It’s pretty surreal, just so unexpected,” Beardman said from Perth airport before departing for Britain.
“I started the morning with a little message from Tony (Dodemaide); I didn’t think it was true to be honest, I thought it might have been one of the boys playing a prank on me.
“But I called him back and started talking and he said you came to England to train and be around the team.”
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Australia T20 Team: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (England games only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Riley Meredith, Matt Short ( England) games only), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
September 4: Australia beat Scotland by seven wickets
September 6: Australia beat Scotland by 70 runs
September 7: Australia beat Scotland by six wickets
September 11: Australia beat England by 28 runs
September 13: England beat Australia by three wickets
September 15: Match abandoned
Australia ODI Team: Mitch Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa. Reserve: Mahli Beardman
September 19: First ODI v England, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 9.30pm AEST
September 21: Second ODI v England, Headingley, Leeds, 8pm AEST
September 24: Third ODI v England, Riverside, Chester-le-Street, 9.30pm AEST
September 27: 4th ODI v England, Lord’s, London, 9.30pm AEST
September 29: Fifth ODI v England, County Ground, Bristol, 8pm AEST
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