Kate Cross has announced that she will retire from professional cricket at the end of this season, bringing a long and decorated career with Lancashire and England to a close. The 34-year-old bowler made the decision after more than two decades in the game, including a 21-year spell with Lancashire and 102 international caps for England.
Cross said retiring “hasn't been an easy decision,” but added that it “feels like the right time.” She also said she is “excited to see what comes next” and hopes to stay involved in the game she loves, while making clear she wants to finish the campaign strongly with Lancashire as they chase more silverware.
A career that began at 13
Cross’s journey started in 2005, when she made her senior county debut for Lancashire at the age of 13. From there, she built a career that took her from junior cricket at Heywood to the biggest stages in the women's game. She said that going from Heywood to a Lancashire shirt, and then an England shirt, had been beyond anything she dreamed of as a child.
That path included an England debut in October 2013 and a pivotal role in helping England retain the Ashes during the 2014 tour of Australia. She later captained England on the white-ball tour of Ireland in 2024, underlining how important she remained to the national setup even deep into her career.
Numbers that underline her impact
Cross leaves the game with 140 wickets in international cricket from her 102 appearances for England, as well as more than 400 career wickets across First-Class, List A and T20 cricket. In 2025, she also reached 100 ODI wickets on her 100th appearance against West Indies, a milestone that reflected both her consistency and longevity.
Her impact at domestic level has been just as significant. Cross helped guide Lancashire to Vitality T20 County Cup success in 2025 and was also part of the Sunrisers Leeds side that won The Hundred title. In her own words, Lancashire has been “a constant throughout my career,” and she said she will always be incredibly proud to have represented the Red Rose.
For Lancashire and England, her retirement marks the end of an era. For Cross, it is also the start of whatever comes next, with the bowler saying she hopes to stay involved in cricket after this season is over.
