Xavier Bartlett is an Australian international fast bowler who plays for the Brisbane Heat. Born on 17 December 1998 in Adelaide, South Australia, he’s a right-arm fast-medium bowler who has become one of Australia’s go-to white-ball quicks. Bartlett was part of the Heat’s BBL|13 championship-winning side and has played ODI and T20I cricket for Australia. Read his Wikipedia profile for his full career record.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Xavier Colin Bartlett |
| Born | 17 December 1998, Adelaide, SA |
| Country | Australia |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium |
| BBL team | Brisbane Heat |
| State team | Queensland |
| Other teams | Kent, Punjab Kings, San Francisco Unicorns |
| Australia | 12 ODIs, 22 T20Is |
Background: Country, Early Life and Domestic Roots
Bartlett was born in Adelaide but grew up on the Gold Coast in Queensland, where his family moved when he was a child. He rose through Queensland’s age-group ranks, debuting for the Gold Coast Dolphins First XI at 17, and his local club is the Gold Coast District Cricket Club. He’s a fast bowler from the Gold Coast whose ability to swing the new ball at pace makes him a key threat across all formats.
He represented Australia at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, made his one-day debut for Queensland later that year, and got his first taste of Sheffield Shield cricket at the start of the 2019-20 season. In the 2020-21 season, he was part of Queensland’s Shield title win. His progress was delayed by back stress fractures early on — a common story for young quicks — and he was often used under the BBL’s old X-Factor substitute rule, sometimes bowling only a single over. But his domestic form became impossible to ignore: 111 first-class wickets at 25.77, and a handy lower-order batter too (827 first-class runs with six fifties).
International Career
Bartlett is now an established part of Australia’s white-ball setup — a new-ball specialist who swings it both ways.
Test Career
No Tests. His game is built for white-ball cricket, and with Australia’s Test pace attack the envy of the world, he’s never been in the red-ball frame at international level.
ODI Career
What a start. Bartlett made his ODI debut for Australia against the West Indies at the MCG on 2 February 2024 (cap 244) and took 4 for 17 — the second-best figures on ODI debut by an Australian, behind Tony Dodemaide’s 5 for 21. He was Player of the Match, having claimed a wicket with his third ball in ODI cricket. He backed it up with 4 for 21 in the same series and was named Player of the Series.
In 12 ODIs he’s taken 23 wickets at 21.91 with a best of 4 for 17. An average under 22 in ODI cricket is outstanding — it puts him among the most effective new-ball bowlers Australia have.
T20I Career
Bartlett made his T20I debut against the West Indies at Perth in February 2023 (cap 109). In 22 T20Is he’s taken 24 wickets at 22.83 with an economy of 8.00 and a best of 3 for 13. He’s become one of Australia’s go-to white-ball quicks: trusted with the new ball, smart at the death, and a gun fielder (13 catches in 22 T20Is).
Domestic and Franchise Career
For Queensland, Bartlett has been a mainstay since 2018-19: 32 first-class matches, 111 wickets at 25.77 with three five-wicket hauls, and genuine all-round value with the bat. He was part of the Bulls’ 2020-21 Sheffield Shield title.
His franchise journey has taken him around the world. He played for Kent in England’s T20 Blast in 2024, then joined the Punjab Kings in the IPL in 2025 — debuting against Kolkata Knight Riders in April 2025 as a replacement for the injured Lockie Ferguson (4 matches, 2 wickets). He also played for the San Francisco Unicorns in America’s Major League Cricket in 2025. Each stint has added something to his game: English swing, IPL pressure, American adventure.
BBL Career With Brisbane Heat
BBL|10 (2020-21): Made his Heat debut on 11 December 2020. In just his second BBL match, he took three wickets against the Adelaide Strikers — a sign of things to come.
BBL|11-12: Became a regular in the Heat attack, trusted more each season. In 2022-23 he delivered a match-winning performance in the Knockout final against the Melbourne Renegades.
BBL|13 (2023-24): The title season. Bartlett was a major contributor as the Heat won the championship — and his form was so good it earned him his Australia debut weeks later. He’s the kind of bowler captains trust in big moments.
BBL|14-15: Continued as a fixture: 59 BBL matches in total, 75 wickets, best figures of 4 for 10. He’s also handy with the bat (288 BBL runs) and brilliant in the field (22 catches).
BBL|16 (2026-27): Back in teal alongside new overseas recruits Tom Curran and Tim Robinson. The Heat’s pace attack — Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Michael Neser — looks formidable. Check the BBL 2027 schedule for Heat fixtures, and read about the new signings: Tom Curran and Bevon Jacobs.
Playing Style and Strengths
Bartlett isn’t the fastest bowler around, but he’s one of the smartest. He hits the seam, moves the ball both ways, and has excellent slower balls — the full white-ball toolkit. His bouncer is well-directed, his yorker is reliable, and he thinks batters out. That 4 for 17 on ODI debut wasn’t luck; it was a bowler executing a plan ball after ball.
He’s also a useful lower-order hitter (his first-class best of 83 shows he can bat) and a gun fielder — coaches love him because he does everything properly. At 27, he’s entering his prime as a fast bowler.
Recent Form and What to Watch
Bartlett keeps delivering for Australia whenever picked — 23 ODI wickets at 21.91 is elite production. For BBL|16, he’ll lead a Heat attack that’s stacked with talent: Johnson’s pace, Neser’s smarts, Curran’s experience, and Bartlett’s swing. That’s a scary combination for opposition batters.
Watch for his new-ball battle with the league’s best openers, whether he can push toward the Golden Arm award, and whether another strong summer cements him as a first-choice white-ball quick for Australia. The 2026-27 season is a big one for him.
Career Statistics
ODI Career (Australia)
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 23 | 21.91 | 4/17 |
T20I Career (Australia)
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 24 | 22.83 | 8.00 | 3/13 |
BBL Career (Brisbane Heat)
| Matches | Wickets | Best |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | 75 | 4/10 |
First-Class Career (Queensland)
| Matches | Wickets | Avg | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 111 | 25.77 | 5/32 |
Last verified: 18 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which BBL team does Xavier Bartlett play for?
Xavier Bartlett plays for the Brisbane Heat. He’s been with the club since BBL|10 and was part of their BBL|13 title-winning squad in 2023-24. He has 75 wickets in 59 BBL matches.
Has Xavier Bartlett played for Australia?
Yes. Bartlett has played 12 ODIs and 22 T20Is for Australia since 2023. His ODI debut against the West Indies in February 2024 brought 4 for 17 — the second-best figures on ODI debut by an Australian — and Player of the Match.
Has Xavier Bartlett played in the IPL?
Yes — for the Punjab Kings in 2025, debuting against Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for the injured Lockie Ferguson. He’s also played for Kent in England and the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket.
See the BBL 2027 schedule for Heat fixtures, meet the other BBL 2027 teams, and check the BBL 2027 points table once the season starts.