Cricket is one of five new sports set to feature at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The IOC approved cricket’s inclusion for LA28 last year, along with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash.
It will be just the second time cricket has featured at the Olympics, having made its debut more than a century ago.
This time, the popular T20 format will feature at the Olympics, with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar celebrating this “golden opportunity” for male and female players to showcase their sport to the world.
“After a wait of more than a century, our beloved sport is back on the Olympic stage at LA28,” he said on X.
“This marks the dawn of a new era for cricket as it will be a golden opportunity to foster inclusivity and showcase new talent from emerging cricketing nations. A start of something truly special!”
- How Great Britain overcame France in the cricket at 1900 Olympics
- Cricket returns to the Olympics at LA 28: How India reacted
When was cricket at the Olympics?
Cricket is returning to the Olympic program for the first time since 1900. Back then, Paris was hosting its first Olympics, which were only the second modern Games after Athens 1896.
In terms of cricket, it was simply one men’s match between Great Britain and France played over two days after the Netherlands and Belgium withdrew.
Taking place at the Vélodrome de Vincennes, a cycling venue, Great Britain won the match by 158 runs.
Great Britain scored 117 in their first innings before bowling France out for 78. In the second innings, Great Britain then scored 145 runs to set France a target of 185.
The French team collapsed, all out for 26, although Great Britain only wrapped up victory with five minutes to spare.
Intriguingly, Great Britain were initially awarded silver medals and France bronze, with both receiving miniature versions of the Eiffel Tower. However, their medals were later converted to gold and silver respectively.
Australia beat South Africa in the T20 Women's World Cup in 2023
What is the T20 cricket format?
T20 cricket is the shortest of the three formats played at international level.
This fast-paced format sees both sides bat for one inning, lasting for 20 overs (120 balls) – hence the name Twenty20 – unless they are bowled out by the fielding team.
The first team batting will typically look to post more than 200 runs, which is comfortably more than a run a ball, although innings totals can depend heavily on the weather and quality of the wicket.
A score in the high 100s would also give teams a strong total to defend, and the exciting nature of this format makes for a lot of big-hitting boundary shots: with a four achieved when the ball rolls over the boundary, and a six when the ball clears the boundary without bouncing.
Teams score a six if their batter can clear the boundary with a shot
A boundary also prevents the need to run between both wickets with your batting partner, although that is seen as a quick way of collecting runs when the shot is not going for a four or six. The fielding team will strategically place their players around the pitch to stop as many runs as possible.
The T20 format was introduced in 2023, with matches lasting around three hours.
Like T20, one-day cricket sees each team bat once and field once, although on this occasion teams will bat for 50 overs, or 300 balls, with matches lasting around eight hours.
Test cricket is played over four or five days, with each team generally having two innings to bat and two innings in the field. Play lasts around seven hours each day, with breaks for lunch and tea. It is a marathon, not a sprint, therefore, making Test cricket the purest form of the game and a start contrast to T20 cricket in terms of shot play and tactics.
What are the cricket venues at LA28?
The cricket venues for LA28 are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its sustainability pledge, the LA Games are set to use 100 per cent existing and temporary venues for the Olympics.
What is the cricket schedule at LA28?
The schedule for the T20 cricket will be finalised closer to the Games.
Which nations are T20 cricket powerhouses?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) consists of 12 “full members” - Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe.
The West Indies are a composite team of 12 different National Olympic Committees, while other nations high-ranking nations include Scotland, Namibia and the Netherlands in the men’s game, and Papua New Guinea, Ireland and Thailand in the women’s game.
At the recent 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which were held in the West Indies and United States, India won after beating South Africa in the final.
India also won the first ever Men's T20 World Cup in 2007, while England (2010, 2022) and West Indies (2012, 2016) are both two-time winners as well. Pakistan (2009), Sri Lanka (2014) and Australia (2021) have all won once.
The 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup will be held in October, while Australia won their sixth T20 world title last year when beating South Africa.
Australia have won six of the eight Women's T20 World Cups since its debut in 2009, which was won by England. The West Indies then won in 2016.
Mithali Raj, former India captain and leading run scorer of all time in women's cricket, said: “It is so exciting that cricket is now an Olympic sport and will make its return at LA28.
“Players will get the chance to compete for an Olympic gold medal and be part of the games which will be so special. It’s also a chance for more fans around the world to enjoy our fantastic sport.”
