Irish stars set for Rory McIlroy quandary as cricket gets nod for 2028 Olympics

10 October 2023 , 10:00

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Current Ireland skipper Paul Stirling is one of four Northern Irish players who could represent Team GB (Image: STEVE BOND/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock)

If, as expected, cricket gets the nod to join the Olympics in 2028, there will be no England, but rather a Team GB which could leave some of Ireland’s best cricketers with a choice to make.

Current Ireland white-ball skipper Paul Stirling is one of four players from Northern Ireland who could play for either an Ireland team or Team GB and join the best of English, Welsh and Scottish talent.

Andy McBrine, Mark Adair and Craig Young are the others who could be faced with the same decision as Rory McIlroy was when it came to Olympic golf in 2021.

McIlroy opted to play for Ireland rather than Great Britain, but missed out on a potential bronze medal on the third extra hole of a seven-person playoff.

McIlroy in action for Ireland at the Tokyo Games (MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

But Ireland may find it tough to qualify for the Los Angeles games due to their current ranking of 12th and the likelihood of just six teams, or possibly eight allowed to take part.
There is just one ground available for the games and with both a men’s and women’s T20 tournament to take place it would leave several high profile teams to miss out.

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The top six as it stands are India, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa with the West Indies just out of the frame in seventh. Hosts USA would not gain an automatic spot but would perhaps need to be in the top 12 in order to enjoy easier qualification. They currently sit in 22nd spot so even this is unlikely.

The England cricket team will become Team GB for the Olympics just like the footballers did

If the West Indies did manage to improve their ranking, and there is a T20 World Cup in their territory next year, then they would have to decide which island would represent them with Barbados and Trinidad the likeliest of options.

Scottish left arm spinner Mark Watt would be another strong contender to push for a place in a Team GB squad for the games that would be largely filled with England’s finest T20 players.

Dean Wilson