First one-day international, Perth
England 131 (33.4 overs): Atkinson 29*; Beardman 6-24
Australia: Yet to bat
England meekly offered Australia respite from the ongoing sandpaper scandal by being bowled out for 131 in the first one-day international in Perth.
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Hours after Pat Cummins emphatically hit back at Usman Khawaja’s comments, Harry Brook’s England folded as 21-year-old fast bowler Mahli Beardman emerged with a stunning 6-24 on his ODI debut.
Beardman nicked off Brook in his second over for his first international wicket. Less than two hours later, bowling accurately and at good pace, he had the best figures by an Australian on ODI debut.
He also dismissed Tom Banton, whose 25 was one of only three scores over 20, Joe Root for 17, Jordan Cox and Sam Curran in an opening spell of five overs that returned figures of 5-18.
Ben Duckett, Banton and Root, plus Beardman’s later victims Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer, fell driving in Perth – dismissals familiar from England’s wretched start to last winter’s Ashes series on the same ground.
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This was another Perth surface offering pace and bounce and England had no answer.
Talk of the sandpaper scandal still swirls around the game – the day began with David Warner accusing Cummins of throwing Khawaja “under the bus” on the Australian TV coverage – but England’s batters missed the chance to apply more misery to their oldest foe.
After damaging defeats by Pakistan and Sri Lanka last month, England are also facing another loss as they attempt to build towards next year’s World Cup.
Familiar feeling in Perth
England floundering in Perth? You’d be forgiven for thinking you were back in 2025. Next week marks a year since the last Ashes began.
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On that occasion, and after minimal preparation, batters were guilty of driving on the up and gifting their wickets.
The openers here – Banton getting a thick edge to a drive with his feet planted and Ben Duckett slicing left-armer Spencer Johnson to backward point – were eerily familiar. England have had lengthy build-up here. That is no excuse this time.
In fairness to Brook, he got a good ball from Beardman which was fiddled behind. Root’s ball was of driving length, but he got a thick edge.
Cox then tentatively nicked off from the crease for two and Curran’s issues against the short ball were laid bare when he top-edged a hook to fine leg off Beardman, who exceeded 90mph at times, for a seven-ball duck.
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From 65-8, Will Jacks offered brief resistance with 25 and Gus Atkinson hit the innings’ only six 29 not out.
England were still dismissed inside 34 overs.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
