Kent have signed exciting Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett – and his new team-mates are thrilled.
The 25-year-old quick has been playing alongside Kent Spitfires T20 captain Sam Billings for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League where he took 20 wickets in 11 matches – ending the tournament as the top wicket-taker.
Bartlett will be available to play the majority of red and white ball cricket for Kent at the start of the new season.
He was named player-of-the-series after his ODI debut for Australia against West Indies earlier this month. He took 4-17 in the second-best ODI debut by an Australian bowler and has also recently made his IT20 debut for his country.
Billings said of his new county team-mate: “Xavier’s a big talent and an elite bloke – I hope that Kent fans are as excited as I am that we’ll see him in a Spitfires shirt this summer.
“I had the best view in the house to watch him bowl in the Big Bash – can’t wait to have that same view in the Blast!”
Bartlett plays for Queensland in Australia’s Sheffield Shield and has taken 66 wickets in 19 first-class matches with a bowling average of 25.68.
He said: “I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress as a bowler over the past few months and this is a great opportunity to test my skills as a bowler further in English conditions.
“I’m excited to link up with my fellow countryman Wes Agar too during my time here. Hopefully, we can both take some wickets together!”
Club captain Daniel Bell-Drummond said: “He’s quite rightly hot property at the moment – we’re excited to have got this over the line and have him with us for the start of the season!”
Kent director of cricket Simon Cook added: “We’re thrilled to have secured Xavier’s services for the early part of the season.
“His career trajectory is clearly on an upward curve, he possesses the ability to take wickets with the new ball in both formats and he has excelled under pressure, consistently delivering in the tough overs during BBL|13.
“We’re working closely together with Xavier’s representation and Cricket Australia to monitor his overseas playing commitments carefully.
“He’ll be a part of our Championship squad at the start of the season, and for at least our first eight Vitality Blast matches, with an opportunity to extend his stay with us until the end of our Vitality Blast group stage if all parties remain in agreement.
“It’ll be exciting to see him in combination with our domestic attack in both formats and he’ll be a big addition for us during his time here.”
