CRICKET will return to the Commonwealth Games in 2022 after a 24-year absence.

Organisers of the Birmingham Games in three years’ time have today confirmed the place of women’s T20 on the sports schedule.

1 Edgbaston cricket ground will host the T20 in 2022 Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Recommendations for cricket, beach volleyball and para table tennis have been formally accepted by the 71 Commonwealth Games Associations.

It means Birmingham 2022 will be the first major multi-sport event to have more women’s medal events (135) than men’s (133). This has never happened before at an Olympics or Commonwealths.

Eight national cricket teams will compete at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Cricket is essentially played by Commonwealth countries at the elite end – Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

It was first held at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur when South Africa beat Australia in the final of the men’s 50-overs-a-side competition.

Scotland and Northern Ireland sent teams but England finished declined to enter the tournament because the dates in September 1988 clashed with the end of the County Championship.

Up to 4,500 athletes are expected to compete across 19 sports between July 27 and August 7, 2022.