‘Going to be opportunities’: Comeback quick relishes chance to enter Test debate

Xavier Bartlett is set to return to the international arena on his home turf, and he’s salivating at the thought of dispatching the injury concerns that cruelled his meteoric rise.

The 25-year-old made an immediate impression in Australian colours – taking four wickets in each of his One-Day International appearances, as well as six scalps in four T20 internationals.

Despite suffering a side strain in September, his efforts were not forgotten by selectors, and now he’s about to make his comeback against Pakistan in the opening T20 clash at the Gabba.

Xavier Bartlett will announce his return from injury when Australia battles Pakistan in the first T20I at the Gabba.Credit: Getty

While a Test debut appears a mile away – given the immovability of veteran frontline trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood – Thursday night’s contest presents a chance for Bartlett to ensure he remains at the forefront of long-term planning.

“Those main three bowlers have been amazing for so long, [but] I think going forward, there’s going to be opportunities,” Bartlett said.

“The goal is always to try and play Test cricket for Australia. Any cricket you get to play for Australia is unbelievable, and you’ve got to try to take it with both hands because these opportunities don’t come around very often.

“I definitely want to get back to playing some red-ball cricket; after this we’ve got two more Shield games to go. But I’m not looking too far ahead, I’m just going to take every game as it comes.”

While recovering from his injury setback, Bartlett set about guiding Queensland’s emerging crop of fast bowlers through the same injury hurdles he endured.

Alongside established seamers Michael Neser and Mark Steketee, the trio sought to ensure developing prospects Tom Whitney and Callum Vidler were not deterred from becoming the Australian attack’s next generation.

Whitney, who missed last season following back surgery, has been the biggest benefactor of Bartlett’s influence – taking five wickets on his Sheffield Shield debut.

Tom Whitney celebrates a wicket in his Queensland Bulls debut.Credit: Getty Images

“Xavier’s been really good leading into this season, and last year going through injury. They’ve all experienced it, and just their experience itself going through this game was really good to lean on,” Whitney said.

“Prioritising your body and recovery they’re really strong on. I’ve just been taking notes out of their book and their preparation, and then skill-wise, they’ve been awesome, being able to identify batters and ways to bowl to them.”

Bartlett will seek to eradicate the demons of Australia’s 2-1 ODI series defeat to Pakistan, after the hosts were blown off the park with bat and bowl.

Australia rested Cummins and Starc for the series decider, while Hazlewood did not feature ahead of a gruelling five-Test summer against India, and only Lance Morris’ double-wicket over stood out among the replacements.

But Bartlett does not entirely believe pride needs to be restored, as he reignites his partnership with Spencer Johnson.

Johnson issued a reminder of his credentials in just his second game since August, when he took figures of 4/46 against Victoria on his own injury comeback, before joining the ODI side.

And Bartlett was adamant the pair’s time at the Heat would prove the complimentary partnership needed to derail Pakistan stars Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.

“He bowls left-arm, 150 [kilometres an hour], he swings it, so he’s pretty much the perfect package. To have him complement me at the other end is really good,” Bartlett said.

“It was disappointing to go down, but we can take some positives out of that, and some momentum into this T20 series.

“Australian cricket has been so good for so long, so we’re not really used to losing that often.”

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