Australia’s womens cricketers have their sights set on 2032 Olympics

With World Cup glory behind them, Australia’s all conquering women’s team has turned its attention to driving cricket into the Olympic Games for the first time in 132 years.

Australia’s all conquering women’s team has turned its attention to driving cricket into the Olympic Games for the first time in 132 years – with Ash Gardner dreaming of a career swansong at Brisbane 2032.

The mission to return cricket to the Olympics begins with Australia’s pursuit of Commonwealth Gold in Birmingham this winter, with the world champion Australians eyeing an opportunity to showcase an irresistible case to IOC bosses and add another coveted piece of silverware to the trophy cabinet.

Ashleigh Gardner (left) celebrates Australia’s 2022 ODI World Cup win with teammates. Picture: Getty Images

Cricket hopes to crack back into the Olympics scene at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but was brutally left off the provisional list of 28 sports late last year.

Brisbane would be a fitting scene for cricket to make its grand return after last appearing in the year 1900, and Australia are treating this Commonwealth Games starting on July 28 as a crucial springboard to Olympic inclusion.

Gardner has just turned 25 and would be 35 by the time the Brisbane Olympics rolls around – but in the back of her mind she has it as a lifelong goal and a game-changing legacy she and teammates could leave for future generations of female cricketers around the globe.

“If it is a possibility that would fantastic. I know if a few years ago you ever asked any of us cricketers playing now whether we would ever be going to an Olympics or a Commonwealth Games we all would have said no. And that’s just because of where the game has grown from,” Gardner told News Corp.

Ashleigh Gardner won the Belinda Clark Award for player of the year. Picture: Getty Images

“Winning a gold medal at a Comm games would be pretty special to say that you’ve achieved that. It’s certainly something I’m striving for personally and I know the team is as well.

“I’ll be turning 35, I certainly would hope (I can make it to then). I think being a spinner and batter, there’s not too much strain on the body.

“It’s certainly something I’d love to strive for.

“Just being able to showcase the game of cricket to different countries that don’t necessarily have it as their first sport could be huge. I know the US have a team and it’s a sport that’s not played over there often, but the Olympics would be a platform for people to want to strive to play at that level.

“For the growth of the game, there’s plenty more countries out there that do play the sport that we just don’t see because we don’t see them on the world stage. If the Olympics became a possibility I think a lot of countries would try and put the time and investment into cricket.”

Ashleigh Gardner takes a stunning catch at the World Cup. Picture: AFP

At the end of the recent 50-over World Cup triumph in New Zealand, Australian captain Meg Lanning left players with some food for thought on what’s next.

With the likes of Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Lanning now on the other side of 30, the dream team won’t be able to stay together for ever, but they are still as motivated as ever.

“It was a conversation that Meg had brought up in our last little player meeting. That ‘OK, we need to figure as a group what we’re striving towards next,’” said Gardner.

“We want to keep the same group for as long as possible. Obviously players are getting older as well and definitely would be considering retirement over the next two to three years.

“The next thing we’re striving towards is the Commonwealth Games, and we’re all striving to just keep winning.”

Ashleigh Gardner batting for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Australia is expected to announce its Commonwealth Games squad in the second half of May, ahead of two training camps taking place in Brisbane in June.

The team then heads to Northern Ireland for a tri-series against the Irish and Pakistan, before the Commonwealth Games gets underway.

In the meantime, Australia’s cricketers could head to Dubai next month for the FairBreak tournament, but it would appear nearly all the big stars will choose to rest and prepare at home.

Cricket Australia are treating the Commonwealth Games as just as important as a World Cup and will be naming a full-strength squad.

“It’s not a development opportunity. The expectation from the Comm Games team is we’re a gold medal prospect so we’re expected to perform,” said head of women’s cricket at CA, Shawn Flegler.

“It’s a really big event and it’s a very important event.”

Flegler said making it to the Olympics would be a watershed moment for cricket, particularly the women’s game.

“I think it’d be unbelievable for the global game. That forces other countries into really putting investment into development programs,” said Flegler.

“If we’re talking about growing cricket globally, it’s a great opportunity, particularly for the girls to be on a world stage. I’d love to see it happen.

“Obviously Brisbane 2032 would be huge.”