A week of watching Australian cricket descend into civil war ended with smiles being wiped from English faces after a stunning debut from fast bowler Mahli Beardman consigned the tourists to an all-too-familiar hammering in Perth.

Victory in a low-key one-day international was never going to atone for the galling start to that failed Ashes campaign here 12 months ago. Nevertheless, England appeared better prepared this time, while the hosts were missing their big three quicks and fighting sandpaper-related bushfires off the field.

And yet by 4.38pm local time – nine hours after Pat Cummins had finished his marathon takedown of Usman Khawaja's autobiography in Sydney – Harry Brook's side were 1-0 down once again. Rolled for 131 all out in just 33.4 overs, having been 68 for eight at one stage, a seven-wicket loss was the upshot.

There was more than a touch of Cummins about their tormentor on the day, too, with Beardman claiming figures of six for 24 from 7.4 overs in his first ODI – a new national record, no less. Just 21 years old, but already touching 90mph on the speed gun, the Western Australian looks a considerable prospect.

Much like Cummins, Beardman has been mentored by the great Dennis Lillee and endured battles with a rebellious body along the way. Even with a first-class debut still pending, it would not be a shock to see him handed a baggy green cap in the coming months or travel to England for the Ashes next year.

Though first drawn to cricket by Mitchell Johnson's exploits during the 2013/14 Ashes, Beardman grew up modelling his action on South Africa's Dale Steyn. As he nicked off Harry Brook and Joe Root to open his ODI account you could see it too: slippery, spiteful outswing that asked plenty of questions.

England's supposedly deep batting line-up did not have many answers, having been undone by a combination of driving on the up – clearly still an issue for them in Perth – and some tepid efforts against the short ball. Optus Stadium is a notoriously low-scoring 50-over ground and there was a collective failure to adjust.

Root struggling to get going usually indicates difficult conditions and the 17 runs he scored in his 200th ODI – having earlier been dropped on three – came in painstaking fashion. Gus Atkinson top-scored with 29, while 25 runs apiece for Tom Banton and Will Jacks was as good as it got among the top seven.

Ducks for Sam Curran and Liam Dawson sat at the other end of this unimpressive spectrum as Beardman removed both all-rounders. Not that it was a one-man show after Mitch Marsh won a useful toss, with left-armer Spencer Johnson setting the tone with the early wicket of Ben Duckett en route to three for 42.

Having spent the previous day stonewalling questions about sandpaper, Marsh was never likely to take the same approach in the run chase. Travis Head was bowled by Atkinson for a golden duck – how England wish that had come a year earlier – but his opening partner's incendiary 30-ball 50 meant that strike counted for little.

Player of the match was only heading one way after Josh Inglis and Matt Renshaw got Australia over the line with 165 balls to spare. Having earlier beamed under his wispy moustache when leading the hosts off the field at the change of innings, Beardman then bounced into the post-match press conference.

"Lying in bed last night, that is not what I had in mind," he said, having earlier found himself on a hat-trick when an edge off Jordan Cox's bat gave Inglis one of five catches behind the stumps on the day. "It happened all so fast."

Asked about that relationship with Lillee, Beardman added: "When I was 14 or 15 I was bowling to a bin down the side of a house and a family friend saw me and thought there was a little bit of air speed there. He knew DK [Lillee] and asked if he'd be willing to work with me. He sort of said no at the start but through my persistence eventually gave in.

"It has been incredible for me. It's just his understanding of fast bowling and how simple he makes it."

For all that this has been a damaging week for Australian cricket off the field – a polarising series of claims and counterclaims that is unlikely to be eased by a solitary win – they appear to have found a gem on it.