England fast bowler Kate Cross has confirmed she will retire from professional cricket at the conclusion of the current English summer. The 34-year-old, who has not represented England since losing her ECB central contract last September, brings an end to a 15-year career that featured 102 international appearances across all formats.
Cross finishes her international tenure with a total of 140 wickets. Her record includes 101 wickets in 76 ODIs, 25 wickets from eight Test matches, and 14 wickets in 18 T20Is. Reflecting on her decision in an Instagram post, she noted that while it is difficult to step away from the sport that shaped her life, she feels fortunate to have competed at the highest level and to have built lasting memories.
Her deep-rooted connection to Lancashire began nearly two decades ago. After joining the county’s junior setup at age 13, she became the first girl to enter the Lancashire Academy two years later. She made her senior debut for the county in 2005. Her international journey began with a 2011 Ashes call-up, followed by her official debut in 2013. She made an immediate impression on the global stage, earning Player of the Match honors with 4/51 in her ODI debut against the West Indies in Barbados. Her Test debut in the 2014 Ashes saw her claim three wickets in each innings, while her career-best international figures of 5/24 arrived against New Zealand in 2015.
Beyond her international duties, Cross played for the Brisbane Heat in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League and was a foundational member of the Lancashire Thunder. She received an ECB central contract in 2019 and served as captain for the Manchester Originals in The Hundred. Having recently played for Sunrisers Leeds, she will spend the remainder of the summer with Lancashire before officially retiring. The report also notes that taking three wickets in each innings as England won the one-off Test, cross made her Test debut during the 2014 Ashes in Perth and immediately made an impact. The report also notes that “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. The report also notes that but, the final chapter is in sight.”. The report also notes that “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,” she wrote. The report also notes that “But I’m even more fortunate to have met the people I have along the way. The report also notes that i have memories that will last a lifetime which I’ll forever be thankful for.”.
