Premier Cricket: St Kilda’s Josh Bartlett a Big Bash League smoky

IS St Kilda all-rounder Josh Bartlett a Big Bash League prospect?His Saints captain and Melbourne Stars spinner Michael Beer certainly believes so.

Josh Bartlett of St Kilda is handed the ball during the Premier Cricket match between Footscray-Edgewater versus St Kilda played at the Merv Hughes Oval Edgewater on Saturday 6th February, 2016. Picture: Mark Dadswell

IS St Kilda all-rounder Josh Bartlett a Big Bash League prospect?

Saints captain and Melbourne Stars spinner Michael Beer believes so.

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Bartlett, the son of Melbourne Football Club president Glen Bartlett, started the Victorian Premier Cricket in style on Saturday, taking 1-36 off his 10 overs against Prahran after earlier cracking 75 – with 5 fours and 3 sixes — off 82 deliveries.

He and newcomer Patrick Rowe repaired the St Kilda innings with a partnership of 117 for the sixth wicket.

Josh Bartlett has a chat with St Kilda captain Michael Beer. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Victorian rookie Rowe – who crossed from Melbourne during winter – hit 52 (3 fours) off 86 deliveries.

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Beer said Bartlett was a rising cricketer, with bat and ball and in the field.

“He’s got all three facets of the game, which is what they look for at the higher level,’’ he said.

“If he keeps doing what he’s doing he’ll get opportunities. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of Big Bash teams are keeping an eye on him as well.

“That’s the bonus with him, he does all three well. If you go back five or six years when they played the one-dayers throughout the season and players got wear and tear, he’d be one of the blokes they would have brought in for a couple of games, just because of his ability to field and bat and bowl.

“Obviously it’s a different situation now and they play all the games in two weeks. But he’s someone who could come in and do a good job.’’

Josh Bartlett streams in for St Kilda during a one-day fixture. Picture: Hamish Blair

After overcoming injuries that had checked his progress, Bartlett played 19 matches for the Saints last season, jagging 38 wickets at 14.2 and making 268 runs at 29.8.

Very good player,’’ St Kilda coach Glenn Lalor said.

“He’s a good competitor, bowls pretty well, hits the ball hard. He’s a genuine all-rounder and a very simple cricketer, if that makes sense. Sees ball, hits ball. Doesn’t overcomplicate it. It’s just what he does.’’

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