Charlotte Edwards has paid tribute to Kate Cross, who announced she would retire from cricket at the end of the season last week, but insists the decision to drop the fast bowler was to bring through younger players and not through lack of ability.
The 34-year-old enjoyed a 12-year England career in which she made 102 appearances across all three formats since her debut in a T20 against the West Indies aged 22 in 2013.
But 2013/14 Ashes winner Cross only featured four times under Edwards, who was appointed in April last year, with her last appearance in an England shirt coming in July 2025 against India.
After being dropped, Cross subsequently went on to lose her England central contract and missed out on a place in the 50-over World Cup and has spent this summer playing only domestic cricket for Lancashire and Hundred franchise SunRisers Leeds.
When making her announcement about her intention to hang up her spikes on the BBC’s No Balls podcast last week [Friday 21 August], Cross spoke of her pride at the resilience she’d shown over the past 12 months, before adding: “I’ve always loved proving people wrong, so when Lottie [Charlotte Edwards] didn’t think I was good enough last year, one of the things I was so proud of was my Hundred [campaign] and how well I went in that, and I obviously got to lift the trophy so that was nice.
“But I won’t have to do that anymore. I won’t have to prove anyone right or wrong which is quite a nice feeling.”
However, when asked about Cross’s comments, Edwards said: “For any cricketer it’s always hard. She’s had a wonderful England career, but we just felt that, with her losing her contract, the focus for the next year was going to be very much on the next generation. That was the main reason.
“She narrowly missed out on the World Cup as well, and that was more conditions-based.”
But Edwards revealed she’d been in contact with Cross since she made her decision and she was full of praise for her former teammate’s exploits.
“I’ve got the utmost respect for Kate,” she continued. “I handed her England cap in 2014. I’ve had a few messages with her this week just to say well done, good luck for what’s next and one about how I remember her getting me out when she was 14 years old.
“She’s someone who will go down as having performed brilliantly for England and, more importantly, as having been a real credit to England both on and off the pitch. I wish her well in her retirement.”
Edwards was speaking at an event held at Castleford CC to promote The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund, which exists to grow and support the number of coaches of girls’ cricket and to nurture the next generation of female players coming through.
Edwards added: “Metro Bank is a champion of women’s cricket and has been for a number of years. To be here and see girls playing all-girls cricket is so important and events like this are going to drive women’s cricket forward.”
By helping more girls access welcoming clubs, supportive coaches and visible role models, the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund gives them more than a chance to play, it helps build confidence, belonging and ambition. Because when girls feel supported in sport, they carry that belief into their lives.
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