Kate Cross: England fast bowler loses central contract

Cross was part of the England squad which won the Women’s Ashes in Australia in 2013-14 but missed the most recent series in Australia, which saw England humbled 16-0 on points, because of a back injury.

She returned to fitness to play in one-day internationals against West Indies but was dropped after figures of 0-60 against India in the first ODI of a series which the tourists went on to win 2-1.

“As it so happened, our appraisals were about 10 days after that series,” Cross told former England team-mate Alex Hartley on their No Balls podcast.

“I went down to Loughborough and I think I was in there for about six minutes and I drove myself back home.

“We had the opportunity to take somebody from the PCA [Professional Cricketers’ Association] into our appraisal.

“Looking back I am so pleased I took him in. I chatted him through what I thought my scenario was about an hour or two before I went into the appraisal and I was inconsolable.

“I thought how am I going to get through the appraisal without crying and then I had cried it out and got in there and within 45 seconds, I found out I wasn’t getting my contract renewed so it all happened really quickly.

“I was weirdly more calm in my appraisal than chatting before it. I had gone in there armed with a lot of my stats and stuff to talk about and I didn’t open my book, I didn’t get a chance to. It was a pretty savage day.”

Since being told her contract will not be renewed, Cross has won The Hundred with Northern Superchargers and helped Lancashire to success in the One-Day Cup.