Xavier Bartlett ruled out of ENG vs AUS 2024 T20I series, Ben Dwarshuis added to the squad

Australia have added left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis to their squad for the remainder of the T20I series against England, with right-arm speedster Xavier Bartlett ruled out. Bartlett suffered a side strain and couldn't finish his spell in the opening T20I at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.

Bartlett played the first two T20Is of the preceding series against Scotland, registering figures of 4-0-23-2 and 3-0-20-1 as Australia swept the rubber 3-0. The South Australian had dismissed Jordan Cox for a 12-ball 17 in Southampton before walking off as Cameron Green bowled the remaining two deliveries.

Dwarshuis, meanwhile, made his international debut in April 2022 in Lahore and went wicketless with figures of 3-0-42-0. He registered figures of 4-0-30-2 in his most recent appearance. The New South Wales seamer was part of the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred this year, taking four wickets in two matches at 14 apiece.

Spencer Johnson, Riley Meredith, and Nathan Ellis were ruled out of the T20I series before Xavier Bartlett

Meanwhile, Australia had three other pacers - Spencer Johnson, Riley Meredith, and Nathan Ellis - ruled out of the T20I series even before it began. The Aussies will have Mitchell Starc returning to the fold for the subsequent five-match ODI series along with Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, and Alex Carey.

Australia took a 1-0 lead in the T20Is by winning the first game by 28 runs. Travis Head top-scored with 59 off 23 deliveries as the visitors set England a 180-run target. Sean Abbott was the pick of the Australian bowlers with figures of 3.2-0-28-3. Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood bagged two scalps apiece, while Bartlett, Green, and Marcus Stoinis took one wicket each.

Head is captaining Australia in the ongoing second T20I at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, with Mitchell Marsh unwell.