After a false start last summer, Sussex League club Brighton and Hove will finally get to host Australian all-rounder Luke Bartier for their upcoming campaign.

A hot prospect

Bartier is one of the hottest prospects coming through the New South Wales ranks in Australia.

He has been compared to Moises Henriques at the same age and plays club cricket alongside the all-rounder at St George, former home to Don Bradman.

A dual passport holder, Bartier is a genuine all-rounder, who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm seam.

He has played NSW Premier Cricket (formerly known as Sydney Grade cricket) for St George since the 2011/12 season.

He broke into first grade at 16, during the 2013/14 season and has represented NSW at both Under-17 and 19 level.

Luke on song for St George in Sydney Grade cricket.

NSW young gun

In January 2015, Bartier was adjudged “Cricketer of the Tournament” for his exploits at the Australian National Under-19 Championships.

The all-rounder averaged 45.67 with the bat, including a game-saving 80 not out against Queensland, and finished second in the Championship wicket charts, taking 15 wickets at 7.47, including best figures of 6-36 against South Australia, following his 4-8 in the tournament opener against Tasmania.

His success culminated with selection for the Australian Under-19 Elite Talent Squad that competed in Brisbane at the Australian Centre of Excellence.

Sydney Grade star

Since then, Bartier has plied his trade for St George, playing alongside the likes of Henriques and fellow NSW stars Kurtis Patterson and Trent Copeland (former Aussie seamer).

He has cemented his spot in the first-grade line-up, which is a feat in itself, and now aspires to progress in the game.

In 2018/19, Bartier racked up hundreds against Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs en route to a season tally of 474 runs at 36.50 alongside 10 wickets at 31.20.

His exploits culminated with a Futures League debut for NSW and selection for the Sydney Sixers Academy.

He then backed up with a further 652 runs at 31 alongside 14 wickets at 31.79 in 2019/20.

The talented all-rounder continued to excel this summer hitting another hundred amongst 465 runs at 29.1 alongside 12 wickets at 28.3.

Luke was the star of the show for NSW at the U19 Carnival.

Bartier set for UK return

Now his season has concluded, he is set to embark on his second UK stint in 2021 following his season with Wollaston in the Northamptonshire ECB Premier League in 2018 (497 runs at 33.13 and 22 wickets at 28.18).

During his maiden stint, Bartier also played 10 times, across the three formats, for Northants 2nd XI (181 runs at 30.16 and 8 wickets at 33.87 in 4 Championship games).

The highly-rated youngster is hugely ambitious and is eager to impress for Brighton and Hove during their 2021 Sussex League campaign.