Western Australia’s promising pace bowler Mahli Beardman is poised to make his One Day International (ODI) debut against England this month. His inclusion comes as Australia’s key trio take a breather and with Nathan Ellis sidelined due to injury. Meanwhile, Sam Harper and Lachlan Shaw have received their first T20I call-ups, with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Mitchell Owen also returning for the T20 series.
However, Tim David, despite resuming List A cricket aiming for the 2027 World Cup, has not been included in the ODI squad, although he retains his spot in the T20I team. Allrounder Liam Scott re-enters the team after missing out on recent tours, alongside Jack Edwards, who made his debut in South Africa as an injury stand-in.
Select players Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and ODI captain Pat Cummins will sit out the three-match ODI series in Perth, Adelaide, and Hobart to recuperate after their Test commitments in South Africa. Their participation in domestic cricket before December’s first Test against New Zealand is yet unconfirmed. Notably, Starc has retired from T20I games.
With Ellis still recovering from a side strain, the ODI squad faces a diminished bowling line-up, led by Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, and newcomer Beardman. Supporting the attack are Edwards and Scott, while Adam Zampa serves as the only spinner. Billy Stanlake remains unavailable due to injury recovery.
The T20I series also sees a re-shuffled squad as key players like Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, and Cameron Green rest ahead of a four-Test New Zealand series. Harper and Shaw debut as wicket-keeper batsmen, whilst Fraser-McGurk and Owen make a return. Joel Davies and Nikhil Chaudhary retain their places following impressive debuts against Bangladesh in June.
Chairman of Selectors George Bailey remarked, “We are in a highly demanding phase of our schedule,” noting the difficulties of a packed calendar as the team supports multi-format players transitioning from their South Africa tour into the ODI and T20I series.
Beardman’s promotion to both formats is seen as a highlight; fresh off a successful Australia A tour in India, he has already made his T20I debut in Pakistan. “Mahli Beardman’s performances were impressive. We are excited for his return, as we see him developing into an all-format player,” Bailey commented.
Scott, returning as a bowling allrounder, aims to further his impact in ODIs, following a mixed selection period and Green’s uncertain bowling availability due to injury. Key batting personnel from the Africa tour remain for the English series, with Ollie Peake continuing in the team and Inglis back after an injury break.
In T20s, Fraser-McGurk’s domestic prowess sees him rejoining the set-up for the first time since July 2025. His performances this season include several standout innings for South Australia. Meanwhile, Owen reappears after missing recent tours. “Jake and Mitch have evolved their games internationally and return with enhanced skills,” said Bailey.
Harper’s inclusion follows a stint with the Test squad for South Africa, while Shaw’s ascent is noteworthy for his limited domestic exposure but potential in the T20 arena, especially after his Australia A tour and leadership role with New South Wales. Bailey further acknowledged, “Lachie Shaw has a powerful game impact, and Sam Harper is executing consistently across formats.”
Philippe and others like Hardie, Meredith, and Kuhnemann have not been retained post-Bangladesh tour.
Australia ODI squad vs England:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Adam Zampa
Australia T20I squad vs England:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Owen, Lachlan Shaw, Adam Zampa
