Kate Cross announces her retirement from professional cricket at the end of the season
Lancashire and England bowler Kate Cross has announced that she will retire from professional cricket at the end of the 2026 season, aged 34.
Cross made her senior county debut for Lancashire aged just 13 in 2005, having learnt her trade at Heywood Cricket Club. A year later, she became the first woman to join Lancashire's Academy, beginning a remarkable journey that has seen her represent the Red Rose at every level.
She has taken 239 wickets for Lancashire across all Red Rose teams, professional and non-professional, including spells with Thunder and Lancashire Thunder in the Kia Super League, before the women's domestic programme became fully professional.
Cross made her England debut in October 2013 and went on to earn 102 international caps across all three formats, taking 140 wickets.
One of the defining moments of her international career came just months after her debut, when she helped England retain the Ashes in Australia in early 2014. On her Test debut in Perth, Cross took 3-35 in each innings as England secured victory – their most recent Ashes series win in Australia. Later that year, she was one of 18 players awarded the ECB's first central contracts.
Cross passed 400 career wickets across First-Class, List A and T20 cricket in 2024, when she was ranked the world's second-best ODI bowler in the ICC rankings. In September that year, she was appointed England captain for the senior white-ball tour of Ireland.
In 2025, Cross became only the eighth player to take 100 ODI wickets for England and enjoyed one of the most successful domestic seasons of her career. She played a key role as Lancashire won the Vitality T20 County Cup and Metro Bank One-Day Cup double, before adding The Hundred title with Northern Superchargers.
Reflecting on her decision to retire at the end of the season, Cross said: “When I look back on my career, I feel nothing but pride and gratitude. To go from playing junior cricket at Heywood to pulling on a Lancashire shirt, and then an England shirt, has been beyond anything I dreamed of as a kid.
“I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout my career, and every teammate, past and present, who I've shared a dressing room with. I've certainly had plenty of highs and lows throughout my career and they’ve always been there for me. Thank you to the coaches and backroom staff who have worked with me and helped me improve every step of the way, and to the Lancashire and England supporters who have got behind me and the team throughout my career.
“Lancashire has been a constant throughout my career, and I'll always be incredibly proud to have represented the Red Rose. Emirates Old Trafford has been my second home, and I'm proud to have been part of the growth of the women's game in recent years.
“Winning two trophies with Lancashire in 2025 was a really special moment and will always be one of the highlights of my career. To do that in a Lancashire shirt, having been part of the Club for so many years, meant a huge amount to me.
“Retiring hasn’t been an easy decision, but it feels like the right time. I'm excited to see what comes next, and I hope to stay involved in the game I love. Before that though, I look forward to playing out the rest of the season with Lancashire as we look to challenge for more silverware.”
Lancashire Chair Dame Sarah Storey commented: “Kate has made an incredible contribution to both Lancashire and England Women over the last two decades and, on behalf of everyone at the Club, I'd like to congratulate her on an outstanding career.
“It is difficult to put into words the impact Kate has had on the women's game in Lancashire. From making her senior county debut at just 13 to becoming an England international, she has been an outstanding player and an exceptional role model, inspiring generations of young players across the North West.
“I know how much it has meant to Kate to represent the Red Rose for so many years, as well as wearing the Three Lions. She has also remained incredibly connected to the recreational game, particularly through her relationship with Heywood Cricket Club and her work with the Lancashire Cricket Foundation.
“Kate is a true Lancashire legend who has set the standard for those coming through and should be incredibly proud of the legacy she has created. Achieving a double, in her penultimate season as a pro, is incredibly special and a rare feat across all sport, and Kate can be rightly proud of the mark she has left on Lancashire Cricket, both on and off the field. Everyone at the Club is immensely proud of her achievements, and we wish her every success and happiness for the next chapter.”
David Thorley, Director of Women’s Cricket at Lancashire, added: “On behalf of our playing group and staff, I would like to thank Kate for her commitment and unwavering dedication to the Club.
“Kate has played such an important role in driving the day-to-day standards here at Lancashire Cricket. She has been an integral part of the dressing room culture and has consistently set an example through her professionalism, work ethic and commitment to the team. She will undoubtedly be a huge loss to us, both on and off the field.
“Kate has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of women’s cricket during her time at Lancashire, and we are incredibly grateful for everything she has given to the Club.
“Congratulations to Kate on an incredible career. We wish her all the very best for life after professional cricket and hope she looks back on her time at Lancashire with immense pride.”
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