Bartlett's new-ball skills earn MLC deal with San Francisco Unicorns
The fast bowler is currently at the IPL and has made a promising start to his Australia career
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Apr-2025
Xavier Bartlett has enjoyed early success for Australia in T20Is • Getty Images
Xavier Bartlett has added to the Australia flavour at MLC by signing for San Francisco Unicorns.
Bartlett, who is currently at the IPL for the Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab Kings, will join Australia team-mates Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short at Unicorns.
He has made an impressive start to his T20I career with 11 wickets in seven matches with an economy rate of 6.84.
In the 2023-24 season he was the leading wicket-taker in the BBL for Brisbane Heat in what proved to be a breakout campaign that earned him his international debut. He was handed a Cricket Australia contract after that season which he retained in the latest list announced earlier this month.
"Xavier has shown his prowess leading the bowling attack for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League and he will be a great addition to the Unicorns bowling line up with his wicket-taking ability with the new ball," Unicorns head coach Shane Watson said.
"Having developed through the national pathways in Australia and onto the international scene, he's matured into a very clever pace bowler, able to both keep the rate down and break key partnerships."
Bartlett could go from MLC to Australia's T20I series against West Indies depending on whether multi-format quicks are rested and will also be in the frame for the Top End series against South Africa in August which features T20Is and ODIs.
There will again be a sizable Australia contingent at MLC although those involved in the Tests against West Indies which run concurrently won't be available. MLC runs from June 12 to July 13.