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Queensland quick Xavier Bartlett says he’s ready to an answer Ashes SOS to support an injury-ravaged Australian bowling attack.
The battle with the English enemy is five weeks away, and Australia’s fast-bowling stocks have been plunged into crisis.
Skipper Pat Cummins was in doubt with stress fractures in his back, while Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Spencer Johnson and Brendan Doggett have all been felled.
Xavier Bartlett looms as an option to come into the Ashes fold should injuries strike the nation’s frontline trio.Credit: Getty
But Bartlett, who has overcome his own torrid injury history – side strains, calf concerns and stress fractures – was adamant he was as prepared as he would ever be to make his debut in the Ashes furnace.
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“You can’t really prepare yourself to play Test cricket, but if I got that opportunity, I feel like my body’s in a good place to handle that load,” he told this masthead.
“As every young fast bowler does, they go through a bit of an injury rut, but my body’s good at the moment.
“It’s exciting to think about that opportunity potentially, but you’d have to put in some good performances because there are so many good players kicking around.”
The Queensland paceman’s selection for the coming ODI series against India has cemented his status among Australia’s leading short-format specialists.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland would make up the top-line trio in Cummins’ absence, yet each had their own chequered injury histories and were in the twilight of their careers.
Bartlett would miss the Bulls’ Shield clash with South Australia starting on Wednesday because of his one-day commitments, while his T20 international squad inclusion for a five-match campaign afterwards would keep him tied up until November 9.
A run of three-straight Shield clashes between November 11 and December 8 appeared to be his best chances to force his way into the mix after the opening two Tests.
“You always dare to dream that’s the case, but you’ve got so many good quicks still fit and firing, so I don’t think you take anything for granted,” Bartlett said.
“If I get some opportunities in Shield cricket, I can put some good performances on the board, and then selection will take care of itself.
“If I got that opportunity, I’d be absolutely stoked to live out that dream.”
A powerful Indian side awaited before Bartlett would launch his Ashes crusade. He salivated at the thought of claiming with the prized scalp of Virat Kohli.
Strong performances in the short form earned Bartlett global recognition, including a maiden Indian Premier League appearance followed by San Francisco selection in America’s Major League Cricket.
Xavier Bartlett is becoming a regular fixture of Australia’s short-format sides.Credit: Getty Images
In those sides, he was able to evolve under the tutelage of two of the country’s greats – Ricky Ponting in India and Shane Watson in the US.
“You play in different conditions and against really good opposition, and get thrown in different situations where you need to adapt quickly,” Bartlett said.
“When you challenge yourself against the best players in the world, you have to learn pretty quickly because the margin for error is quite small.”
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Bartlett linked up with Ponting’s Punjab Kings, where he lapped up every word uttered by arguably Australia’s finest cricketer, before joining Watson at the Unicorns, where he finished as the competition’s leading wicket-taker (18 at 19.77).
As he plotted his ascent in international cricket, Bartlett said he hoped the pair would remain influential figures in his corner.
“He’s just so approachable,” Bartlett said of Ponting. “You look up to him so much because of the player he was, but … he was amazing for me, you hold off every word he says.
“More often than not, it’s always right, and the way he articulates things was really cool. Everything he said held its weight in gold.
“They’re two very approachable people, who hopefully I can have a good relationship with and bounce off if I need to in the future.”
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