“I think the biggest thing for us is getting some attention.”
England bowler Kate Cross has a clear vision of what women’s cricket needs going forward and if her words ring true expect 2015 to be a break through summer for women’s cricket.
The ECB’s incoming chairman, Colin Graves, has been vocal in his support of the women’s game and Sky Sports have announced they will show every ball of the Women’s Ashes series.
The profile of women’s domestic cricket is also on the rise – this month Lancashire held their men’s and women’s media days together for the first time in the club’s history.
“Days like today when we can come and be alongside the Lancashire men and promote our sponsors and promote the girls can only make women’s cricket stronger,” said Cross.
“Colin Graves’ arrival will also massively help women’s cricket. It really helps us when someone at the top of the ECB is really gunning for us.
“In the summer we have Sky taking on all our games during the Ashes, and that is the only way that women’s cricket is going to get bigger by giving people a chance to watch it.”
However, before this summer’s big event gets underway Cross is enjoying her time out of the limelight as she prepares to start the season with Lancashire.
Cross is Lancashire’s first professional women’s cricketer, after earning an ECB central contract following her test debut last year.
2014 was also a good year for Lancashire, who won promotion back to the Women’s County Championship Division One, and now the England bowler is determined to help her side stay up.
“It is something we have worked hard for, for a long time – In my first year here we were relegated so it has been a real goal of mine to get back in to division one,” said the 23-year-old.
“It means we are all going to be playing against a lot more of the England girls so it will be a really big competition for us.
“I am seen as a younger player in the England squad so it is really nice to come back to Lancashire and be able to transfer some of the stuff that I do with England and be able to help the girls.”
Cross’ input has helped as Lancashire have seen eight or nine girls move into the England set up in recent years.
And the opening bowler is fully aware of the benefits that moving into a professional set up can bring.
“The difficulty for the Lancashire girls is we just don’t play a lot of cricket and it is difficult to get everyone together to train,” added Cross. “Everyone has their own jobs, or school, or university.
“That’s the beauty of the England set up that we can meet up every week as a squad; but Lancashire must be doing the right things because we have so many girls in the England set up now.”
With the profile of women’s cricket only set to rise in the coming years, Cross is all too aware of the importance of staying in the national team, and the opportunities that will create.
“I literally cannot wait for the Ashes. I have never looked forward to a series as much – although obviously I have to get in the squad first, so that is my main aim,” Cross said.
“There is always a buzz around an Ashes summer and it will be even bigger now that we can be involved in that, so I really can’t wait.”
And the crucial question: are England going to win the Ashes?
“Of course we are.”
