Former England bowler Kate Cross has announced she will retire from cricket at the conclusion of the summer season. The 34-year-old, who represented England 102 times between 2013 and 2025, has been active in domestic cricket since losing her England contract last year.
"It is 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 stated. "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."
Cross made her debut for Lancashire at age 14 and was the first woman on the county's academy. Dame Sarah Storey, chair of Lancashire, described Cross as a "true Lancashire legend" and noted her "incredible contribution to both Lancashire and England Women."
Cross most recently played in The Hundred final for Sunrisers Leeds and is scheduled to play the remainder of the season for Lancashire. Her international career began with a T20 debut in the West Indies at age 22. She was part of England's 2013-14 Ashes-winning squad, the team's most recent victory in the Women's Ashes series.
After falling out of favor across formats, Cross watched England's 2017 World Cup win from a hospitality box. She later regained her place and was a regular in the Test and 50-over England sides until being omitted by new coach Charlotte Edwards last summer. Her final international appearance was an ODI against India in July of the previous year. Cross concludes her career with 25 Test wickets, 101 wickets in one-day internationals, and 14 wickets in T20 internationals.