Kate Cross to end professional cricket career after current season
Kate Cross, who played 102 times for England, will retire from cricket at the end of the summer. The 34-year-old seamer lost her England contract last year and has been competing domestically for Lancashire. She expressed gratitude for her professional career and will play her remaining matches for Lancashire.
Cross debuted for Lancashire at 14 and later became the county’s first female academy member. Her England career spanned 12 years, including a key role in the 2013-14 Ashes victory, though she watched the 2017 World Cup win from a hospitality box after being dropped. She regained her place and remained a regular until last summer, when new coach Charlotte Edwards omitted her. Her final international was an ODI against India in July 2025, and she ends with 140 international wickets across formats. She also played in The Hundred final for Sunrisers Leeds last weekend.
Cross’s retirement could signal a generational shift in women’s cricket, as veteran players transition out after losing central contracts. Her departure may affect young fans who saw her as a role model, particularly in Lancashire, where she helped grow the women’s game. It could also prompt discussions about how domestic performers are valued when national contracts are cut, though her legacy as a pioneer for female academy players may inspire future pathways.