KEEP ON T0ILING
ADVICE FOR TEEN
FORMER Test paceman Ryan Harris has urged rising Gold Coast quick Xavier Bartlett not to be frustrated by a lack of recent big-wicket hauls.
Long earmarked for higher honours, Bartlett has been a consistent presence at the bowling crease without really ripping apart batting line-ups.
The 19-year-old has eight wickets at an average of 33.63 in eight matches for the Gold Coast Dolphins this season, while he took five wickets in five appearances for Queensland at the under-19 national championships in December.
Bartlett nonetheless is ticking boxes as a Bulls rookie contracted player and will have two opportunities this month to play under Harris’s coaching.
First, tomorrow, he will play at the Gabba in the Ponting XI v Gilchrist XI exhibition curtainraiser to the Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers.
Then, he’ll be off to New Zealand to represent Australia at the under-19 World Cup.
Both times he will line up alongside Dolphins teammate Max Bryant.
Harris encouraged Bartlett to be patient in the pursuit of wickets.
“It’s one of those things I guess where by the sound of all reports he has been bowling well, he just hasn’t been getting the bagful of wickets which is what happens with cricket when you bowl,” Harris said.
“There’ll be a day when he bowls absolute rubbish and he gets five or six wickets in a day.
“He’s probably frustrated a bit by that but he has got to learn not to be and just keep doing what he is doing.
“Obviously you’re judged by wickets but if you’re doing a job that you’re asked of by the captain or coach, then he is doing his job.”
Harris said Bartlett’s changes over the past couple of years – including his physical development and adjustment to his stock bowling length – has not gone unnoticed and added he brings plenty of assets to the table.
“The reason why we have picked him is, he is obviously a talent, but the way he bowls is quite accurate and he swings the ball at the front and then bowls really good at the back end (of an innings),” he said.
“He has really got the whole lot with what he can do with his skill set.”