Ash Barty set to make cricket comeback 10 years after last match

Ash Barty is set to return to cricket nearly a decade after her last competitive appearance, featuring in the T20 Cairns Gold Clash on November 22, 2026. The former world No.1 previously played for Brisbane Heat and Queensland before returning to tennis and winning three Grand Slam titles.

Former world No.1 tennis player Ash Barty is set to return to cricket nearly a decade after her last competitive appearance in the sport. The Australian star will feature in the T20 Cairns Gold Clash on November 22, 2026.

Barty will represent Team Cricket against Team Footy at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns in the celebrity match, which is being introduced in Australia after gaining popularity in New Zealand.

She will be joined by several prominent names from Australian and international sport, including Brian Lara, Usman Khawaja, Matt Hayden, Mike Hussey and Johnathan Thurston.

Barty’s cricket journey began during an 18-month break from professional tennis. After stepping away from tennis following the 2014 US Open, she took up cricket and began training with Queensland’s women’s team. She also played club cricket for Western Suburbs District Cricket Club in Brisbane before earning a contract with the Brisbane Heat for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League season.