Kate Cross Eyes 2025 50-Over World Cup Glory Amid ODI Series Decider
Kate Cross, England’s experienced seamer, remains hopeful of making the T20 World Cup squad in Bangladesh this winter but admits her primary target is the 50-over World Cup in 2025.
As she gears up for the third ODI against Pakistan at Chelmsford, Cross is keen to solidify her role in England’s ODI plans.
As she gets ready to lead the line once more in the third ODI against Pakistan at Chelmsford, England’s seasoned seamer Kate Cross says she hasn’t given up on competing for a spot in England’s T20 World Cup squad in Bangladesh this winter. However, she acknowledges that her more achievable goal is the 50-over version in 2025.
With two wickets taken in England’s 37-run victory in the first-round of the series at Derby on Thursday, Cross, 32, is by far the most experienced seamer in England’s white-ball ranks, having amassed 85 wickets at a cost of 25.35 in 64 ODIs to far.
She had, however, only participated in three T20I matches in the previous four years, and she acknowledges that she lost the opportunity to make an impression when she was called up for England’s devastating series loss to Sri Lanka in September of last year. In the second of those three games, which was also played in Chelmsford, Cross finished with figures of 0 for 33 in 2.2 overs, helping her side to victory behind Chamari Athapaththu.
Therefore, Cross recognizes that this final ODI is a big opportunity for her to refine the skills that have kept her at the forefront of England’s 50-over plans for the past five years – and to help raise the team’s standards after a “untidy” display, studded with 31 wides, in last week’s win in the series opener. However, the squad’s primary focus is on building towards Bangladesh in October.
“I think how we played in Derby probably wasn’t how we would like to play the game,” Cross stated. We weren’t exactly at our best in the field, and we were a little messy with the ball. Furthermore, we may not have applied as much pressure as we would have liked to the Pakistani bowling attack.
“It shows we’re doing a lot of really good things because we haven’t lost an ODI series under Jon Lewis [since November 2022]. But how can we maintain that optimistic outlook all the time? We were definitely disappointed at Derby because we felt like we could have been a touch more merciless at times.
“We have demonstrated in the Ashes last year that, on our best day, we can defeat any team; we were able to exert pressure on Australia at really crucial times.” However, we occasionally overlook the fact that we’re expecting a lot of really young, unskilled players to be flawless. While playing international cricket, the group is attempting to grow and learn, and that’s a tremendously challenging position to be.
We no longer have these windows of time when you can spend eight weeks training in your region or at Loughborough just focusing on one thing. You’re expected to be flawless all the time because you’re wearing an England shirt, but we need to set realistic expectations for ourselves. Even if it would be ideal, we clearly don’t intentionally bowl 40 wides in a game.”
England’s practice was restricted to indoor sessions for the batters due to the bad weather in Chelmsford on Tuesday. However, as Cross acknowledged, the team’s mental preparation is crucial considering the intensity of their current workload across formats and tournaments, which include the upcoming Hundred, which takes place in August, and the white-ball series against New Zealand in June and July.
Also Read: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Winners List (1973-2023) Full Winners And Runners List
“There’s always something around the corner,” she stated. “We have the 50-over World Cup next year, as well as South Africa this winter and the Ashes right after in January. You thus have the impression that you are always constructing something. Underlying all of that are the fundamental abilities that we constantly strive to reinforce.
We currently prioritize T20 cricket, but I’m probably more concerned about the 50-over format and getting ready for the World Cup in 18 months. Alice Capsey and Lauren Bell might feel differently about it, so it’s great that we have so much planned and so much to look forward to. However, it’s crucial to be able to prepare with the mindset we want to bring to that [50-over] World Cup in terms of this series.”
Regarding the T20 World Cup, Cross is adamant that she can still participate and intends to use the Northern Superchargers’ Hundred campaign in addition to the Charlotte Edwards Cup to strengthen her claim to a spot on the squad. However, Bell acknowledges her position in the hierarchy in light of her status as England’s premier seamer and her own inability to capitalize on the opportunity the previous year.
“I was in the squad for about four years without getting an opportunity, but I hold my hand up, in the Sri Lanka series I didn’t execute anything that I wanted to,” Cross stated. “I am aware that I most likely missed my chance there. Lewey [Jon Lewis], with whom I’ve spoken on a few occasions, only needs to witness my success in T20 cricket. However, because of the way the squad is now balanced, you essentially have to be eliminating Lauren Bell, our one and only seamer who has excelled in that style.
“Bally executes a fantastic job of swinging the new ball before returning to finish out games by taking wickets. Thus, it’s a really good guide to be able to follow and strive toward.
“But it’s just about knowing yourself as well,” she said. “As a thirty-two-year-old, I obviously understand my limitations a little better than some of the younger girls, but even so, you should seize those moments when they present themselves. It really is a delicate balancing act. However, representing England to the best of our abilities and donning this uniform come first.”
