Sport
5 October, 2026
AFL great to play in T20 clash
AFL immortal Gary Ablett Jr spent two decades making life miserable for opponents on the football field – and in a twist nobody saw coming, he’s about to line up against some of them again, this time with bat in hand.
Ablett has signed on as a Team Cricket wildcard selection for November’s inaugural T20 Cairns Gold Clash in association with Hot Spring.
Unlike the AFL greats who have joined Team Footy, Ablett will wear the colours of Team Cricket, playing alongside tennis grand slam champion Ash Barty. The pair join West Indies icon Brian Lara and Australian cricket greats Usman Khawaja, Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey on a side stacked with genuine bat-and-ball pedigree.
Team Footy will feature AFL stars Dale Thomas, Joel Selwood, Isaac Smith and Kate McCarthy, plus former big name NRL players Johnathan Thurston and Sam Burgess, with more big names set to be announced soon.
“When Gold Clash asked if I’d play for Team Cricket instead of Team Footy, it wasn’t something I saw coming, but I loved the idea straight away,” Ablett said.
“I’ve spent my whole career going head-to-head with guys like Dale (Thomas) and Isaac (Smith) on the footy field, so it’ll be a bit different renewing that rivalry with a bat in my hand instead.
“It’ll be a great night for footy and cricket fans in Cairns, so I can’t wait to get up there and give it a crack.”
The T20 Cairns Gold Clash involves the biggest cricket, AFL and NRL names on Sunday 22 November. Tickets at www.cnslocal.s.gy/hN77Bx
