Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia are keen to take a glimpse into the future during their upcoming ODI series against the arch enemy, and England’s white-ball coach Brendon McCullum will be an interested onlooker.
England touched down in Perth on Monday night ahead of Saturday’s practice match against WA at the WACA Ground and the series-opening ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium on November 13.
The three-match ODI series will give both teams an early chance to experiment ahead of the World Cup in Africa later next year.
Australia have rested star pace trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the ODI fixtures as well as the five-match T20 series against England that follows.
Young WA paceman Mahli Beardman is set to make his ODI debut after being named in both squads.
Beardman, who made his T20 international debut in January, is only 21 and is already being touted as a future star.
“He bowls fast, raw,” McCullum said when asked about the right-arm paceman’s inclusion.
“Probably similar to some of our guys actually – you’ve got to keep trying to bring that next wave of fast bowlers through
“Australia have gone down that route. There’s something always exciting about fast, raw pace.”
McCullum was sacked as England’s Test coach in July, with the team’s 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia last summer playing a key part in his downfall.
But the 45-year-old Kiwi remains the coach of England’s T20 and ODI sides, and he’s keen to make the current tour of Australia a happier one.
And unlike the relaxed-looking preparation for the Ashes, it seems England are going to ramp up their loads ahead of the ODI series.
“We’ve got some great preparation lined up here,” McCullum said.
“The boys will be running the roads a little bit as well.
“We see fitness as a vital component of how we want to play. We want to play a high-octane, robust style of play, which demands fitness elements to it.”
McCullum has welcomed the return of Jofra Archer after the star paceman was rested from the recent tri-series in Pakistan, in which England won just one of their four matches.
“Jof’s a big player for us in all three forms of the game, and not everyone can stay up all the time,” McCullum said.
“So we made sure we gave him a bit of a rest.”
McCullum is looking forward to seeing his team in action on the fast and bouncy Optus Stadium wicket.
“Optus is great,” McCullum said.
“It’s like batting on a trampoline on most occasions with the extra bounce, but that can be your friend or your foe.”
