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 CHAPTER
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.
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Her WBBL debut came on December 5, 2015, against the Melbourne Stars. Batting at No. 6, Barty smashed 39 off 27 balls, including a six, in an innings that showcased her potential with the bat.
Barty went on to play nine matches for the Brisbane Heat during the 2015-16 WBBL season, scoring 68 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 109.68. She also represented Queensland in two List A matches, scoring 11 runs.
Her last competitive cricket appearances came during the 2015-16 season before she returned her focus to tennis in early 2016. Barty later credited her cricket experience with helping her rediscover her enjoyment of sport and said the break ultimately made her a better tennis player.
FROM CRICKET TO TENNIS GREATNESS
Barty’s return to tennis marked the beginning of an extraordinary second chapter. She won the 2019 French Open for her first Grand Slam singles title, followed it with the 2021 Wimbledon crown and then won the 2022 Australian Open.
The Australian Open triumph was particularly significant as Barty became the first Australian woman in 44 years to win the singles title at Melbourne Park. She retired from professional tennis in March 2022 while ranked No. 1 in the world and as the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.
Barty finished her tennis career with three Grand Slam singles titles and spent 121 weeks at No. 1. Her return to cricket in Cairns will offer a rare glimpse of the former champion back in the sport that played an important role during a pivotal period of her career.
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