Under-19 World Cup winning quicks fast-tracked to Big Bash League deals

Australian under-19 World Cup-winning spearheads Callum Vidler and Mahli Beardman have continued their rapid rise through the ranks signing BBL deals for the summer.

They were the stars of Australia’s under-19 World Cup-winning side, and rising quicks Callum Vidler and Mahli Beardman are now fully transitioned from boys cricket to the men’s arena.

Vidler and Beardman, both 18, have signed with the Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers respectively for the upcoming Big Bash League campaign (Beardman for an additional season as well), continuing their rapid ascension through the ranks.

Queenslander Vidler and Westem Australia’s Beardman both have deals with their home states, and could now be catapulted into prime time when the BBL begins in mid-December.

There are major raps on both the pacemen following their exploits during Australia’s under-19 campaign in South Africa at the start of the year. Vidler took 14 wickets at 11.71 to be the Aussies’ most prolific bowler through the event, while fellow right-armer Beardman took 3-15 to decimate India in the decider.

Callum Vidler has signed with the Brisbane Heat. Picture: Getty Images

Vidler played a Sheffield Shield match for the Bulls late in the season while Beardman - who counts the legendary Dennis Lillee among his mentors - appeared in a one-dayer for WA last November but that is likely to be just the start of professional adult cricket for the next generation tearaways, both of whom have been clocked at more than 140 kms/h.

While the BBL is not even a decade and a half old, Beardman - from Margaret River and then Dampier - is part of a generation that has grown up with the competition and dreamt of playing for the ultra-successful Scorchers alongside childhood heroes turned teammates.

“It’s something that I’ve gone and watched since I was a really young boy, and watching those boys Richo (Jhye Richardson), and Dorf (Jason Behrendorff) and AJ (Tye) and (Ash) Agar and all those boys early on, do their thing and be so successful over the past little while,” Beardman says.

Mahli Beardman signed with the Perth Scorchers. Picture: Gallo Images

“I think it’s inspirational, and obviously going into training with those boys, and you hear stories about it, it sounds so incredible being a part of a team like that, and being a part of an atmosphere like that.

“It’s been the goal for a long time now, and something that I’ve always dreamt of and worked really hard to get towards. So I think that now it’s within reach. It’s something that I have to keep working hard, and hopefully eventually I’ll be able to tick off.”

Beardman is eyeing further opportunities with WA this summer as well and has sworn off alcohol this Winter this prepare his body for the rigours of domestic cricket.

He’s also had to cut back on something even more dangerous for the body than booze.

An enthusiastic surfer and spear fisherman, Beardman has been known to get a bit too close and personal with sharks, but has lowered his risk threshold since getting his WA rookie deal.

“Always a few scary moments, especially surfing. I’ve been pushed up through the water column by a couple of bigger sharks, been charged by a solid bull shark that bent my spear, had tiger sharks come at me front-on at full tilt. Yeah, a little bit hairy.”

Originally published as Under-19 World Cup winning quicks fast-tracked to Big Bash League deals