We present 2.1 GHz imaging with the Australia Telescope Compact Array ( ATCA ) of a 6.5 deg ^ { 2 } region within the XXM-Newton XXL South field using a band of 1.1 - 3.1 GHz . We achieve an angular resolution of 4.7 ^ { \prime \prime } \times 4.2 ^ { \prime \prime } in the final radio continuum map with a median rms noise level of 50 \mu Jy/beam . We identify 1389 radio sources in the field with peak S/N \geq 5 and present the catalogue of observed parameters . We find that 305 sources are resolved , of which 77 consist of multiple radio components . These number counts are in agreement with those found for the COSMOS-VLA 1.4 GHz survey . We derive spectral indices by a comparison with the Sydney University Molongolo Sky Survey ( SUMSS ) 843 MHz data . We find an average spectral index of -0.78 and a scatter of 0.28 , in line with expectations . This pilot survey was conducted in preparation for a larger ATCA program to observe the full 25 deg ^ { 2 } southern XXL field . When complete , the survey will provide a unique resource of sensitive , wide-field radio continuum imaging with complementary X-ray data in the field . This will facilitate studies of the physical mechanisms of radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs and galaxy clusters , and the role they play in galaxy evolution . The source catalogue is publicly available online via the XXL Master Catalogue browser and the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg ( CDS ) .