NEW DELHI : England fast bowler Kate Cross has announced her retirement from professional cricket, confirming that she will bring her playing career to an end after the ongoing English summer.

Cross, who made her England debut in October 2013, represented the national side across all three formats and finished with 102 international appearances and 140 wickets.

Announcing her decision on social media, Cross said it was difficult to contemplate leaving the sport that has played a major role in her life and shaped her as a person.

“This summer is going to be my last playing professional cricket. It’s 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. 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 wrote on her social media account.

“But I’m even more fortunate to have met the people I have along the way. I have memories that will last a lifetime which I’ll forever be thankful for. I’m so grateful for the journey I have had in cricket and although I have a few more games to play and so many things I would like to say, for now I’d just like to thank each and every one of you who has supported me and made it all possible,” Cross concluded.

One of the standout performances of Cross’s ODI career came in 2024, when she claimed 6/30 against Ireland, producing a match-winning spell.

She also made an immediate impact in Test cricket, taking 6/70 across the two innings on her debut at the WACA in Australia in 2014, helping England secure an Ashes Test victory Down Under. (ANI)