Cricket is back for the Commonwealth Games after over 20 years - line up announced

Cricket is the first sport to announce a complete line up for the Commonwealth Games 2022. A host of Commonwealth nations on the list include Australia, Barbados, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

Sri Lanka, fresh from winning the Women's T20 Commonwealth Games Qualifier 2022 in Kuala Lumpur last week, also joins the line up.

The announcement was made by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in association with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) today, February 1.

: Jack Grealish and Aston Villa players respond to shock deadline day transfer

The sport will make history in 2022 as the second time only it has featured in the Commonwealth Games. Significantly this is also the first time women's T20 cricket will be played at the Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham 2022 promises a spectacle with Australia and India, the finalists of the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, set to battle in the opener on July 29. The medal matches are scheduled to be played on August 7.

Two groups will play in the league stage at the tournament. Along with Australia and India Group A also comprises of Barbados and Pakistan. England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka meanwhile will scrap for the lead in Group B.

Some may remember 1998's Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur where the men's teams battled it out with South Africa winning Gold under Shaun Pollock's leadership, defeating Steve Waugh's Australia by four wickets.

Geoff Allardice, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "It's good to have finalised the identity of the teams participating in the Commonwealth Games, and congratulations to Sri Lanka for making it after playing so well in the qualifier.

"We will have eight of the best teams competing for the gold and I