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Australian pace sensation Xavier Bartlett is set to feature in the 2025 edition of Major League Cricket (MLC), having officially signed with the San Francisco Unicorns.
Currently playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Punjab Kings, Bartlett is carrying forth his cricketing endeavor this summer to the United States. The pacer, learning under the watch of legendary Australian coach Ricky Ponting at Punjab, will join a strong Australian contingent at the Unicorns, including Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Matt Short. First reported at ESPNcricinfo:
Bartlett boomed into the international scene by making a promising start to his T20I career, capturing 11 wickets in just seven matches with a neat economy rate of 6.84. The rest justified his claim, as he led the tally of wicket takers in title race during the 2023-24 Big Bash League (BBL) season with Brisbane Heat.
All these led him to bag a national contract from Cricket Australia, which is still in place, the latest list being released earlier this month.
Unicorns Coach Shane Watson Lauds Bartlett's Skills
San Francisco Unicorns head coach Shane Watson expressed high praise for Bartlett, particularly highlighting his new-ball prowess and consistency.
"Xavier has shown his prowess leading the bowling attack for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, and he will be a great addition to the Unicorns bowling line-up with his wicket-taking ability with the new ball," Watson said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Watson also emphasized the value of Bartlett’s development through Australia's cricket system, pointing to the fast bowler's composure and intelligence on the field.
"Having developed through the national pathways in Australia and onto the international scene, he's matured into a very clever pace bowler, able to both keep the rate down and break key partnerships," he added.
MLC 2025: Schedule and Format
The 2025 edition of Major League Cricket is scheduled to run from June 12 to July 13 across venues in the United States. The league comprises six franchises: Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings, and Washington Freedom.
With international stars joining the fray and the sport’s popularity growing stateside, the second season of MLC is poised for a major leap.
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