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Quick Xavier Bartlett, a player who has represented Australia in white-ball formats, is set to compete in this season’s Major League Cricket after signing with the San Francisco Unicorns.
This marks Bartlett’s inaugural participation in the prestigious American tournament, offering him a vital opportunity to bolster his case for national selection ahead of a busy calendar for Australia, which includes the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year.
As the leading wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Big Bash League season, Bartlett has piqued the interest of selectors as they work to establish depth behind key fast bowlers like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc.
He impressively secured four-wicket hauls in his first two One-Day Internationals against the West Indies in early 2024 and has taken 11 wickets from seven T20 Internationals at an average of 14.72.
Bartlett narrowly missed being selected for Australia’s squad during the recent Champions Trophy, yet he is regarded as a prospective asset for the 50-over format, especially with the next ODI World Cup scheduled for 2027 in favorable seam-bowling conditions in southern Africa.
In his debut season at the Indian Premier League, under significant scrutiny and challenging conditions for bowlers, Bartlett has performed credibly during the powerplay after being called up for the Punjab Kings.
His signing with the Unicorns adds to a growing roster, which previously featured the acquisition of emerging Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly and New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert.
Renowned for generating threatening late swing with the new ball, Bartlett is anticipated to forge an impressive bowling partnership with Pakistan’s Haris Rauf at the Unicorns. “Playing alongside and against some of the premier international cricketers in this year’s MLC, under head coach Shane Watson, is an extraordinary opportunity,” Bartlett shared.
He expressed excitement about joining the Unicorns, stating, “The franchise presents a genuine chance to compete for the championship this year.”
Although the Unicorns will miss key Australian players such as Cummins and Josh Inglis due to their Test commitments, the team is focusing on emerging talents including Bartlett, Connolly, and dynamic batter Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Shane Watson commended Bartlett’s development, noting, “Having progressed through national pathways in Australia to the international stage, he has matured into a highly strategic pace bowler. He can effectively control run rates and dismantle critical partnerships. Together with Haris (Rauf) and our talented domestic fast bowlers, we are well-equipped in that area.”
Bartlett is set to showcase his skills at the iconic Oakland Coliseum, home to nine matches from June 12 to 18, before the tournament transitions to Dallas and Broward County in Florida.
Located near Interstate 880, the Coliseum features stunning views of the Oakland hills, which are popular among spectators in the terraces. The venue has hosted nearly 5,000 baseball games and served as the home ground for the Athletics for 57 years. The Raiders, a previous NFL team, also once called this venue home before relocating to Las Vegas, while the Coliseum gained further fame from being chronicled in the acclaimed 2011 film Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt.
The Unicorns will kick off the tournament at the Coliseum on June 12 against the defending champions, Washington Freedom, in a rematch of the previous year’s final.
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