Bulls Go West For Shield

Bartlett, who played in the ODI matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa in the past month, will link with his Bulls teammates in Perth later today ahead of the opening round of the 2026-27 first class season.

Bartlett delivered some handy performances for Australia, hitting his second career ODI half century in the big run chase at Johannesburg before his new ball burst of 2-25 helped Australia to victory at Potchefstroom.
 
He will be joined in the attack by experienced paceman Cameron Gannon, who will return to the WACA to take on his former WA teammates just months after re-joining Queensland following six seasons in the West.
 
Gannon, who finished his career in Perth as the team’s leading wicket-taker last season, will resume his Queensland career where he was capped on 30 occasions before switching States.
 
First season contracted wicket-keeper Dylan McLachan has been included in the touring squad of 13, with the Bulls playing back-to-back Shield games away as well as two Domestic One-Day matches on the road during the month.
 
Regular gloveman Jimmy Peirson successfully completed his comeback from a hamstring injury in KFC Queensland Premier Cricket over the weekend and will begin his season with the potential milestone of 100 first class games for Queensland later this season.
 
Peirson has played 91 matches to date for the Bulls.
 
Batters Hugo Burdon (160), Angus Lovell (186 and 179), Jack Clayton (172) and Hugh Weibgen (130) have all enjoyed prolific starts to the two-day Bulls Masters First Grade competition in the past fortnight.
 
Weibgen also scored a century for the Bulls in their high-scoring Domestic One Day Cup loss to NSW at Allan Border Field last month.
 
Left-hander Lachlan Hearne needs 77 runs to bring up 1000 career Shield runs for NSW and Queensland.

Leg-spinner Mitch Swepson will captain the Bulls with regular skipper Marnus Labuschagne on international duties in South Africa ahead of the Test series. Opener Matt Renshaw and paceman Michael Neser are also part of the Australian squad.
 
Fans will be able to watch more Sheffield Shield cricket on Fox Cricket this season, with one match from each of Rounds 2-7, as well as the Sheffield Shield Final, broadcast live.

Fox Cricket Broadcast Matches:

Round 2 (19-22 October): South Australia v Queensland
Round 3 (31 October-3 November): Queensland v Victoria
Round 4 (11-14 November): Victoria v Western Australia
Round 5 (22-25 November): NSW v Queensland
Round 6 (3-6 December): NSW v Western Australia
Round 7 (8-11 February): Victoria v Tasmania Day/Night
Final (25-29 March): Sheffield Shield Final

Additionally, every match throughout the competition will be streamed live on cricket.com.au, the Cricket Australia Live app and Kayo Sports.
 
SHEFFIELD SHIELD
Qld v WA
WACA, Thurs – Sun
 
QUEENSLAND BULLS
Mitchell Swepson (c)
Xavier Bartlett
Hugo Burdon
Jack Clayton
Cameron Gannon
Lachlan Hearne
Hayden Kerr
Angus Lovell
Dylan McLachlan
Jimmy Peirson
Jem Ryan
Tom Straker
Hugh Weibgen
(12th man to be named at the toss)