Kate Cross announces retirement from professional cricket

England fast bowler Kate Cross has announced her retirement from professional cricket, which will take effect at the end of the 2026 season. The 34-year-old veteran has had a career spanning over two decades, beginning with her senior county debut for Lancashire at age 13 in 2005.

Cross earned 102 international caps for England across all three formats, claiming 140 international wickets. Notable career highlights include her Test debut in Perth in 2014, where her performance helped England retain the Ashes, and being among the first players awarded central contracts by the ECB. In 2024, she reached a milestone of 400 career wickets across First-Class, List A, and T20 cricket and achieved a career-high ICC ODI bowling ranking of number two.

In a social media statement, Cross expressed gratitude for her journey, stating, “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.”