Xavier Bartlett sustains side strain during 1st ENG vs AUS 2024 T20I; Dwarshius added as cover in ODI squad 

Australia pacer Xavier Bartlett is a major doubt for the remainder of the England white-ball tour after suffering a side strain in the first T20I in Southampton on Wednesday, August 11. The right-arm bowler could not bowl his full quota of overs during the Aussies' 28-run win and left the field midway through the second innings.

Bartlett was handed the new ball responsibilities along with Josh Hazlewood in Australia's pursuit of defending the 180-run target. The new ball specialist found some early movement, conceding only a solitary boundary off his first two overs.

He delivered the second breakthrough for Australia while bowling his third over on the trot. The pacer dismissed debutant Jordan Cox for 17 and was handed his final over right after the powerplay.

However, he could bowl only four overs before starting to hobble. All-rounder Cameron Green was assigned to finish the over as Bartlett did not return to the field. He finished with figures of 1-26 off 3.4 overs with an economy of 7.09.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Bartlett seems unlikely for the rest of the tour. He becomes the third member in the seam bowling unit to be injured, following Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis.

Australia had called up speedster Riley Meredith as cover for Hazlewood, who was nursing a calf injury. The right-arm pacer could take Bartlett's place in the remainder of the T20I series, while the team also boasts several all-rounders.

As far as Bartlett's replacement for the ensuing five-match ODI series is concerned, Australia will reportedly have left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshius flying in as cover.

The second T20I between Australia and England will be played at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Friday, September 13.

Xavier Bartlett would have been a massive asset for Australia in England following a successful county stint

Xavier Bartlett has risen quickly among the ranks to be a bonafide member of the Australian pace-bowling pipeline. Although there is not much room in the department, with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood calling the shots across formats, Bartlett has made his presence count with 14 wickets in six white-ball contests.

Before Australia toured England, Bartlett was involved with Kent in the T20 Blast competition. He took nine wickets in eight matches at an economy of 9.01 as Kent finished at the bottom of the South Group.