Photo: Collected
It was 12 years ago. Taskin Ahmed was celebrating as he took wicket after wicket against India in Mirpur, finishing with five. But his feat was overshadowed by the failure of Bangladesh’s batters.
The very next year, Mustafizur Rahman rattled India. He took five wickets in Mirpur in 2015, but unlike Taskin, he did not end up on the losing side. Why bring up Taskin and Mustafizur all of a sudden? Mahli Beardman has brought back memories of the old feats of Bangladesh’s two star pacers. In the first ODI of the series against England in Perth today, he took six wickets for 24 runs in 6.4 overs. This is the best bowling on ODI debut for Australia. He has also made it into the top five best bowling figures on ODI debut.
Although he turned the record books upside down with his fiery bowling, in one respect Beardman is nowhere near Taskin and Mustafizur. The record for the youngest to take five wickets in an innings on ODI debut still belongs to Taskin. He was 19 years 75 days old when he achieved the feat in 2014. Mustafizur, second on the list, was 19 years 285 days old in 2015.
Beardman is fifth on this list of youngest five-fors on ODI debut. The Australian pacer tore through England today at the age of 21 years 74 days. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, third on the list, was 20 years 46 days old on the day of his five-for. He achieved the feat against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2015, also taking a hat-trick that day. Sri Lankan all-rounder Charitha Buddhika’s feat came much earlier: he took a five-for against Zimbabwe in 2001 at the age of 21 years 65 days.
Of these top five, only Taskin ended up on the losing side; the other four left the field as winners. Australia beat England by seven wickets in Perth today, with Beardman named player of the match. The only bowler to take seven wickets on ODI debut is Scotland pacer Charlie Cassell, who took seven for 21 against Oman in 2024. Proteas pacer Rabada, West Indies’ Fidel Edwards, Australia’s Beardman and Scotland’s Lyle Robertson have each taken six wickets on debut.
Youngest to take five wickets in an innings on ODI debut
Taskin Ahmed — 19 years 75 days — Bangladesh, against India — 2014, Mirpur
Mustafizur Rahman — 19 years 285 days — Bangladesh, against India — 2015, Mirpur
Kagiso Rabada — 20 years 46 days — South Africa, against Bangladesh — 2015, Mirpur
Charitha Buddhika — 21 years 65 days — Sri Lanka, against Zimbabwe — 2001, Sharjah
Mahli Beardman — 21 years 74 days — Australia, against England — 2026, Perth
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika — https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/sports/cricket/ajpnv258g98l2
