England and Lancashire veteran seamer Kate Cross has announced that she will retire from professional cricket at the end of the ongoing season, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable 21-year career. The 34-year-old revealed the decision through a heartfelt post on her personal Instagram account, shortly after featuring for Sunrisers Leeds in the recently concluded sixth edition of The Hundred.
“This summer is going to be my last playing professional cricket,” Cross wrote. “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.”
Kate Cross’s announcement comes ahead of England’s white-ball series against Ireland, which will include three ODIs from September 1 to 6, 2026. England will be led by stand-in captain Charlie Dean in the absence of regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is recovering from injury, while Ireland will be captained by Gaby Lewis. Cross, however, has not been included in England’s ODI squad for the series.
Her most recent competitive outing came with Sunrisers Leeds, led by Danielle Gibson, during The Hundred. The side finished second in the league standings with 20 points from eight matches, recording five victories and three defeats. Cross claimed four wickets in nine innings and matches with the ball, although her economy rate stood at 9.40. Sunrisers Leeds eventually finished runners-up after suffering an eight-wicket defeat against Ashleigh Gardner’s Trent Rockets in the final at Iconic Lord’s, London, on August 16.
A Lancashire and England legend
Cross’s professional journey began with Lancashire, where she made her senior county debut in 2005 at just 13. In 2026, she became the first woman to join Lancashire’s Academy, underlining the depth of her connection with the Red Rose. Across 21 years, she took 239 wickets for Lancashire’s professional and non-professional teams in all formats.
Her England debut arrived in October 2013, and she went on to win 102 international caps across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, taking 140 wickets. Only three months after making her international bow, Cross played a pivotal role in England’s successful Ashes defence during the 2014 tour of Australia.
She later captained England during their white-ball tour of Ireland in 2024 and established herself as one of the leading ODI bowlers in the world. In 2025, Cross became only the eighth England women’s player to take 100 ODI wickets, reaching the landmark in her 100th appearance against West Indies. She was also the second-fastest English woman to achieve the feat.
“I’m excited to see what comes next, and I hope to stay involved in the game I love,” Cross said. “Before that, though, I look forward to playing out the rest of the season with Lancashire as we look to challenge for more silverware.” The fast bowler also surpassed 400 career wickets across First-Class, List A and T20 cricket. Her 2025 season was especially memorable, as she helped Lancashire win the Vitality T20 County Cup before contributing to Sunrisers Leeds’ triumph in The Hundred, formerly known as Northern Superchargers.
“Winning two trophies with Lancashire in 2025 was really special,” she said. “To do that in a Lancashire shirt, having been part of the Club for so many years, meant a huge amount to me.”
Lancashire chair Dame Sarah Storey described Cross as a “true Lancashire legend” and praised the legacy she had created both on and off the field. For a player who moved from junior cricket at Heywood to the biggest stages in women’s cricket, retirement marks not an ending, but the beginning of a new chapter shaped by pride, gratitude and an enduring connection to the game.
(Quotes sourced from Sky Sports Kate Cross’ Instagram Handle)
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.