From Lords to Los Angeles: Team GB Eyes Olympic Cricket Glory
Move over synchronised swimming – cricket is returning to the Olympics for the first time since Queen Victoria was on the throne, and the UK’s national boards are already padding up.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland have confirmed they’re in talks to cobble together a Team GB cricket squad for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, according to BBC Sport.
You read that right: a Great Britain team, where England, Scotland and Wales would (gasp) actually work together. If that sounds like trying to get Aussies and Kiwis to share a barbecue, you’re not far off.
“We’re in the process of establishing a Team GB cricket entity,” said Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade, calling it “exciting times”.
Quick Stats: Olympic Cricket & Team GB at LA 2028
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Last time cricket featured in Olympics | 1900 (Paris) – GB beat France by 158 runs |
| Olympic format at LA 2028 | T20 – Men’s and Women’s, six-team tournaments |
| Max players per squad | 15 players |
| Team GB cricket existence currently? | In progress – talks underway |
| Qualification rules | TBD (ICC and BOA to confirm process) |
| Last time a GB men’s football team played | 2012 London Olympics |
| Last time a GB women’s football team tried | 2024 qualifiers (England nominated; failed) |
Can Team GB Actually Work Together?
Ah yes, uniting England, Scotland, and Wales behind one cricket team. Historically… not exactly mates at the crease.
- In football, a GB team is still rarer than an Englishman letting a Scot take strike.
- In cricket? Well, Team GB is more an administrative idea than a functioning machine.
“It’s what’s required by the British Olympic Association (BOA) for a British team to compete at the Games,”
– Trudy Lindblade, Cricket Scotland
Still, the vibes are reasonably positive this time. And look, if they can get four Home Nations to agree on anything (even who bowls first), it’s basically a diplomatic miracle.
Flashback to Paris 1900 – GB’s Olympic One-Hit Wonder
- Great Britain played France in cricket’s first and only Olympic match in 1900.
- GB won by 158 runs.
- The Netherlands and Belgium withdrew, leaving it as a one-off final.
- Fun fact: Most French players were actually British expats. Vive la confusion.
Aussie Perspective: We’re Already Warming Up The Kookaburra
The Aussies, who’ve never needed much reason to whack England in anything, will be licking their lips.
- T20 is the national pastime now (sorry, Test cricket).
- Aussie men and women are ranked No.1 or close to it.
- And let’s be honest: LA 2028 is shaping up like a Cricket World Cup with medals.
What’s Next?
- Qualification process? TBD by the ICC.
- Selection criteria for a Team GB squad? Still being nutted out.
- Can Scotland or Wales players get a fair go? The politics will be trickier than a spinning deck in Chennai.
But hey, cricket’s back on the Olympic stage, and for fans of ashes, run chases and Duckworth-Lewis voodoo, that’s reason enough to raise the bat.
