As Australia gear up to face Sri Lanka in the 2-match ODI series, the visitors�squad is loaded with young emerging talents and players who have proven their worth in the domestic circuit and have been allowed to showcase their abilities for the national side. One such name in the Australian squad is that of Aaron Hardie.

The 26-year-old has gone through the struggles and heat of the Australian domestic circuit and is rapidly turning out to be the next big all-round sensation in Australian cricket following the likes of Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds. In light of his maiden tour to Sri Lanka, here are some k?ey fact?s about Hardie.

All you need to know about Aaron Hardie

1. Birth and early beginnings

Hardie was born on January 7, 1999, in Bournemouth, England, but his family moved out of England and settled down in Perth, Australia, where he spent his childhood and got his first exposur??e to cricket. Hardie is the only child to his parents who saw his interest in the game as a child and inspired him to pursue cricket as a career. Apart from cricket, he got a keen interest in fishing and playing football from his parents early on in his life.

2. First big opportunity as a youngster:

In January 2018, Hardie was named in Australia’s squad for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, but an unfortunate injury ruled him out of the tournament, delaying his big-stage debut. However, later that year, he earned an opportunity to play for the Cricket Australia XI in a high-profile four-day match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Hardie made an immediate impact, dismissing Indian captain Virat Kohli and finishing with impressive bowling figures of 4/50 in the first innings. Showcasing his all-round abilities, he also contributed with the bat, scoring a crucial 86 runs. Reflecting on the experience, Hardie described the moment as “a bit surreal,” highlighting the significance of the match in his early career. This performance marked his arrival as a promising all-rounder, paving the way for greater opportunities in Australian cricket.

Also Read: SL vs A??US: Fans go gaga as ??Charith Asalanka smashes a remarkable ton against Australia in the 1st ODI

3. Domestic cricket debut:

Hardie made his Twenty20 debut for the Perth Scorchers in the 2018�9 Big Bash League season on January 9, 2019. Later that year, he continued his rise in Australian domestic cricket, making his first-class debut for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield on March 20, 2019, followed by his List A debut in the Marsh One-Day Cup on October 23, 2019. Hardie’s breakthrough moment came in March 2020, when he scored his maiden first-class century, proving his ability as a dependable all-rounder. His standout performance arrived in the 2021�2 Sheffield Shield final, where he played a match-winning knock of 174 not out to help Western Australia clinch the title. Recognizing his growing reputation, Surrey signed him in June 2022 to play in England’s T20 Blast and County Championship, further e??xpanding his experience in the shor?test format.

4. First experience of International cricket:

In August 2023, Aaron Hardie received his first international call-up, earning a place in Australia’s squad for both the T20I and ODI series against South Africa. He made his much-anticipated T20I debut on August 30, 2023, in the opening match of the three-game series, marking his entry into international cricket. Just days later, on September 9, he stepped onto the ODI stage, making his ODI debut in the 2nd encounter of the five-match series. Hardie’s selection came against the backdrop of ?his impressive domestic performances and his growing reputation as a talented all-rounder. With his abil??ity to contribute with both bat and ball, he quickly became a valuable asset for Australia’s limited-overs setup.

5. A heartwarming relationship:

Hardie has been in a long-term relationship with Anna Bodlovich, with the couple often sharing glimpses of their bond on social media. Beyond being a supportive partner, Bodlovich has built a successful career in marketing, holding dual roles in the industry. Since April 2022, she has worked as a Marketing Assista??nt at Switch Agency, where she contributes to branding, promotional campaigns, and client engagement. Additionally, she has been serving as an Assistant Brand Manager at Myaree Ceramics on a part-time basis since May 2021, showcasing her expertise in brand management. With both Hardie and Bodlovich excelling in their respective fields, they continue to support each other’s ambitions while maintaining a strong and enduring relationship.

Also Read: Australia’s Adam Gilchrist names?? the? Greatest Cricketer of All Time

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While cricket is a sport loaded with excitement and unprecedented developments, it is not every day that an astonishing catch changes the course of the game on its head. Something of a similar sort happened during the opening ODI encounter between Sri Lanka and Australia when Asitha Fernando outmatched all odds to send Jake Fraser McGurk ?back to the pavilion. The dismissal not only shocked the cricketing world but changed the entire Australian approach towards the run chase as the visitors saw defeat in sight for the first time during their current tour to Sri Lanka.

Asitha Fernando stunned Jake Fraser McGurk to mark the end of his innings

The incident occurred during the 3rd over of the Australian innings. The visitors were already suffering since opener Matthew Short was dismissed by Asitha in the very first over of the run-chase on a duck. McGurk and top-order batter Cooper Connolly were trying to bring their team ??back into the game, but fate had decided otherwise for Australians this time around.

On the 4th delivery of Asitha’s over, a short-length ball came as a shock to McGurk, who had already committed himself on the front foot. The explosive Australian opener tried to adjust to the length of the ball but was too late in doing so as the ball took an edge from his bat while he was trying to close its face and went straight to Asitha who took a remarkable follow-through catch to dismiss McGurk.
The dismissal was consequential since it gave Australia another major setback and turned the tide of the m??atch in Sri Lanka’s favor. The visitors were out of opti??ons they were not able to recover from the early breakthroughs throughout the run-chase.

Here’s the video 

Asitha strikes for a second time!

Now it's Fraser-McGurk who goes, offering a leading edge back to Asitha #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/bIjusK0XRt

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 12, 2025

Also Watch: Steve Smith’s lightning reflexes sen??d Avishka Fernand?o packing in the 1st ODI

Sri Lanka’s determined bowling effort secured a win against Australia

In the game, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. While at one point it appeared as if the horror show from the Test series continued for the home side a valiant 127-run knock from skipper Charith Asalanka in adverse situati??ons saved the day for Sri Lanka with the bat and paved the way for the team to reach a competitive total of 214 runs in 46 overs.

In response, Australia appeared on the back foot ever since the beginning of their innings. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals for the visitors who could not cope in front of a determined and relentless attack from Sri Lanka’s bowling unit. Maheesh Theekshana was the star for the home side with the bowl as he clinched 4 wickets. Other bowlers like Dunith Wellalage ?and Fernando also fairly supported him by taking 2 wickets e??ach.

For Australia, wicket-keeper Alex Carey and all-rounder Aaron Hardie did try to put up some resistance but failed to capitalize on the hard-bui?lt momentum. The visitors were bowled out on 165 runs in 33.5 ov??ers, resulting in a win for Sri Lanka by 49 runs.

Also Watch: Steve Smith grabs a st??unner at slips to dismiss Janith Liyanage in?? the 1st ODI

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