Kate Cross has announced on social media that this summer will be her last playing professional cricket. The England bowler said it is hard to imagine saying goodbye to cricket, which has been a huge part of her life. She said the final chapter of her career is now in sight.
“This summer is going to be my last playing professional cricket. It’s incredibly hard to imagine ever saying goodbye to playing the sport that has been such a huge part of my life and shaped me into the person I am today. But, the final chapter is in sight.”
Cross made her T20I debut for England against West Indies at Bridgetown on October 24, 2013. She has played 18 T20Is and taken 14 wickets, with best bowling figures of 2/18. Her bowling average is 30.50 and her economy rate is 7.31. Her T20I debut was the first step of her England career.
Cross made her ODI debut against West Indies at Port of Spain on October 29, 2013. She has played 76 ODIs and taken 101 wickets, with best bowling figures of 6/30. She has an ODI bowling average of 24.83 and an economy rate of 4.45. Her 101 wickets are her highest tally across the three international formats.
She made her Test debut against Australia at W.A.C.A. from January 10 to 13, 2014. She has played 8 Tests and taken 25 wickets, with best bowling figures of 6/70. Her Test bowling average is 30.72 and her economy rate is 3.14. On debut, she finished with 6 for 70 and played an important role in England’s victory.
She became the first female cricketer accepted into the Lancashire Academy in 2006. She was called up to the England squad during the 2011 tour of Australia, but had to wait over two years before playing for England. On her international debut in October 2013, she took 4 for 51 and won Player of the Match.
She played cricket for Heywood Cricket Club from the age of eight and was selected for Lancashire Women’s senior side at 13. She graduated from Leeds University in May 2014 onto an England contract.
She made headlines in April 2015 when she became the first woman to play in the Central Lancashire League for Heywood. She took 3 for 19 and later followed that with a career-best 8 for 47. She took 6 for 71 against India in 2014 and claimed her first international five-wicket haul against New Zealand at Lincoln in February 2015.
“I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play the game I love professionally and get to do it at the highest level. But I’m even more fortunate to have met the people I have along the way. I have memories that will last a lifetime which I’ll forever be thankful for.”
Cross said she is grateful for the journey she has had in cricket and for the people who supported her. She said she still has a few more games to play and many things she would like to say. She wanted to thank everyone who supported her and helped make her career possible.
“I’m so grateful for the journey I have had in cricket and although I have a few more games to play and so many things I would like to say, for now I’d just like to thank each and every one of you who has supported me and made it all possible.”
Cross now has a few more games to play before this summer brings her playing career to an end. Her England journey began in 2013 and is now reaching its final chapter.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.