'I didn't think it was real': Aussie teen earns shock ODI call-up as injury toll bites
Australia has called in a teenage talent to help fix an injury crisis in the national men's white ball squad.
Mahli Beardman, 19, has been added to the ODI squad as a reserve ahead of a five-match series against England, starting Thursday night AEST.
The fast bowler was a star of Australia's under 19 World Cup campaign earlier this year, at which the Aussies thumped India in the final to claim the trophy. Beardman took 3-15 in that final.
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"It's pretty surreal, just so unexpected," Beardman said of his surprise national call-up.
"I started the morning off with a little message from (selector) Tony (Dodemaide). I didn't think it was real to be honest, I thought it might have been one of the boys pranking me.
"But I gave him a call back and got talking and he said come over to England to train and be around the squad."
Mahli Beardman of Australia celebrates a wicket with his teammates during the U19 Men's World Cup. Getty
Beardman is yet to play first class cricket and has only one List A match to his name for Western Australia.
The tearaway young paceman isn't guaranteed a start in the green and gold but will be on standby should the Aussies suffer any more injuries.
Ben Dwarshuis had already been called into the camp following the drawn T20I series and will remain for the ODI series, while veteran Mitchell Starc also joins.
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Australia is suffering a crisis of sorts in its white-ball fast bowling ranks.
Xavier Bartlett suffered a side strain during last week's T20I in England.
Riley Meredith, Spencer Johnson, Jhye Richardson, Will Sutherland, and Lance Morris are also unavailable due to injury, while Test captain Pat Cummins is being rested from this tour.
Following the drawn T20I series on Monday, captain Mitchell Marsh flagged the team may need to call on every player in the squad during the ODI matches.
"There will be opportunities for guys throughout the series, no doubt," Marsh told cricket.com.au.
"Five games in 11 days, we'll have to juggle a bit, but guys will get opportunities and a lot like the T20 series, we're really excited by that."
Australia ODI squad: 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
