Australian cricketer Xavier Bartlett discusses Indian Premier League, Major League Cricket, and the Aussie summer
As preparations for the 2025/26 summer of cricket begin, Xavier Bartlett has lifted the lid his unusual preparation for the upcoming season.
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As the midway point of the year approaches, the cricket world’s attention begins to turn to how next summer might play out.
Cairns is set to be right at the top of the agenda, with a pair of international men’s fixtures slated between Australia and South Africa in August.
With the upcoming 2025/26 summer in sight, one of Australia’s up-and-coming pacemen Xavier Bartlett has lifted the lid on how his preparation is looking.
“For me, as soon as IPL is done I’ll be heading over to America for the Major League Cricket season,” Bartlett told this masthead.
“It’ll be a great opportunity to experience playing cricket in a different part of the world.
“I’m really excited for it, I’ve never actually been to America so to experience the country while playing cricket will be very cool.”
Bartlett is not the first Aussie to make the trek to the US to play our national game.
Pat Cummins’ signing of a four-year contract with the San Francisco Unicorns, the team Bartlett will play for, was highly publicised in 2024.
Cummins will not pull on the colours for the Unicorns in 2025 due to international duties.
“There’s a couple of quality names there in Pat and Josh (Inglis) that have played for them so there’s a bit to live up to,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett’s arrival in the US will come hot on the heels of a successful debut Indian Premier League campaign with Punjab Kings.
Following a five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on Monday, the Kings are through to the IPL 2025 Final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“It’s been an amazing experience to be honest,” Bartlett said.
“It’s obviously the best T20 competition in the world, so to play and train alongside the best was phenomenal.
“It’s been a pretty steep learning curve and its an opportunity that I’m very grateful for.
“It’s hopefully laid the groundwork for a good summer back home. Getting a chance to play here in India against the best has been good for me.”
The summer back on home soil begins with a series of six matches between Australia and South Africa in Cairns, Mackay and Darwin.
Bartlett said he’s looking forward to returning to Far North Queensland, where he has played in the past in the Big Bash League with Brisbane.
“I played a Big Bash (League) game with Brisbane up at Cazalys a couple of years back for our season opener,” he said.
“I absolutely love Cairns, it’s a great part of the world and the fans have come out in numbers.
“To be bringing international cricket to Cairns is really exciting. I just hope that I can be in and around the squad and get a chance to play in front of those fans.”
Cricket Australia’s International summer of cricket pre-sale runs June 3-13. Fans can still sign up for pre-sale access during this period, visit cricket.com.au/tickets for more information
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