The 25-year-old bowler had been due to represent Kent in both the County Championship and T20 Blast between April and June before having his no-objection certificate declined by Cricket Australia on the eve of the season
Xavier Bartlett will represent Kent this season following negotiations with Cricket Australia.
The 25-year-old bowler had originally been due to be available for five of Kent's first seven County Championship matches and six of their opening eight T20 Blast matches before having his no-objection certificate declined on the eve of the season.
The refused NOC applied for the red-ball element of his contract and Kent and Cricket Australia have now agreed that he can feature in the first eight matches of the T20 Blast.
Kent had previously seen an attempt to sign him in 2023 derailed by injury.
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Bartlett made his T20I debut for Australia earlier this year [Paul Kane/Getty Images]
Bartlett was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023/24 Big Bash, helping Brisbane Heat to the title [Matt King/Getty Images]
Compatriot Wes Agar and South African Beyers Swanepoel, who was brought in to replace Bartlett, will also be available for the Blast.
"We've been working extremely hard with Cricket Australia to ensure that Xavier can join us in some capacity this season, and we're really pleased to have secured his services for eight matches of our T20 campaign," said Kent's director of cricket, Simon Cook.
"He is hot property at the moment and fully deserves his new central contract with Australia. I know that Spitfires supporters around the world will be extremely excited that the BBL's top wicket-taker this winter will be pulling on a Kent shirt this June."
Bartlett has taken 50 wickets with an economy of 8.24 in 41 T20 appearances and earned his maiden T20I cap for Australia against West Indies in February, taking 2 for 37.
He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023/24 Big Bash, taking 20 wickets to help Brisbane Heat to the title.
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