Cricket will be included in the Olympics for the first time in over a cenutry in four years time at the Los Angeles 2028 games. It was reported today (August 13) that the ECB have opened discussions with Cricket Scotland to field a combined Team GB XI in the games.
There has been little information on how teams will be formed at the LA 2028 Olympics for countries with multiple identities who use different ones under the ICC and the IOC. This puts the four UK nations in an unclear position as to who will be able to compete for Team GB (Great Britain).
While it's been announced that the ECB and Cricket Scotland are in conversation over fielding a side in the games, Ireland's position is still unclear. The British Olympic Association is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while the Republic of Ireland compete separately. This means that Northern Irish cricketers could potentially compete in a combined XI with English, Welsh and Scottish players, but Southern Irish players in theory won't be able to.
The West Indies are in a similar position, with each island competing in the Olympics under a different flag. However, a precedent was potentially set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where the islands combined under the Barbados banner to participate in the women's cricket event.
Despite no confirmation over which players will be eligible to compete in Team GB's Olympic XI, the prospect of players across the four nations joining forces for the event is exciting.
Which Scotland players could compete in a Team GB XI?
Scotland were serious competitors in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, almost trumping England and Australia in the group stages. One of the most exciting young talents currently in the Scotland men's side is 24-year-old Brandon McMullen. From the 13 T20Is he's played to date, he's scored four half-centuries and strikes at 155.52. Against England in the T20 World Cup, he scored an unbeaten 61 off 31 balls.
Another option to include would be Mark Watt as a left-arm spinner. Watt has 80 wickets from 67 T20Is, and has an economy rate of 6.88. His trademark variation bowled from way behind the crease would be a unique point for Team GB. There's also Brad Wheal to consider for a pace attack which likely won't have Mark Wood in its selection pool in four years time.
For the women's side, as with the men, several Scotland players ply their trade on the English domestic circuit and feature in the women's Hundred as domestic players. The most notable of these players who could feature in a combined side are the Bryce sisters.
Kathryn Bryce took a five-wicket-haul last week against Northern Superchargers, and became the first Scottish player to play in the WPL earlier this year. Sarah Bryce scored a match-winning half-century for Welsh Fire earlier in the tournament. There's also Rachel Slater, who was the leading wicket-taker for Scotland in their successful T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament earlier this year. Abtaha Maqsood would also be another option, but with England's world-beating spin trio, it's hard to see other spinners getting a look in.
Which Ireland players would be eligible to compete in a Team GB XI?
The situation is more complicated for Ireland players. While Ireland compete under one flag in ICC events and bilateral series, Northern Irish athletes compete under the Team GB banner in the Olympics. That means not all Ireland players will be available for selection for a Team GB XI should Cricket Ireland combine forces with the other UK cricket boards.
However, if Northern Irish players do compete for Team GB, there are several players who could make the XI. Paul Stirling holds a British passport so would likely be eligible to compete under a British flag in most circumstances should he still be playing in four years time (he is currently 33). An opening partnership of Phil Salt and Stirling, or Jos Buttler and Stirling would be an explosive prospect. Mark Adair would also be an option as part of the pace-bowling attack, with over 122 wickets from 86 T20Is.
There's less potential options for Ireland players in a combined women's XI. Of centrally contracted Ireland players, only two are from Northern Ireland - Alana Dalzell and Cara Murray. Dalzell has only played eight T20Is with seven wickets from them. Murray would be an interesting addition as a leg-break bowler and lower-order batter, but as previously stated, England's trio of spinners make any other potential spin options less likely.
Possible Team GB Men's XI for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
1. Phil Salt (wk)
2. Paul Stirling
3. Brandon McMullen
4. Harry Brook
5. Jos Buttler (c)
6. Liam Livingstone
7. Sam Curran
8. Rehan Ahmed
9. Mark Adair
10. Jofra Archer
11. Mark Watt
Possible Team GB Women's XI for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
1. Sophia Dunkley
2. Maia Bouchier
3. Alice Capsey
4. Nat Sciver-Brunt (c)
5. Kathryn Bryce
6. Sarah Bryce (wk)
7. Charlie Dean
8. Sophie Ecclestone
9. Sarah Glenn
10. Rachel Slater
11. Lauren Bell
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