Kate Cross is eager for the players in England Women’s new-look team to showcase their talent and stake a claim for future involvement during the upcoming white-ball series against Ireland. As the 32-year-old seamer steps into the role of captain for the tour, which kicks off with the first of three ODIs in Belfast on Saturday, regular skipper Heather Knight gears up to lead the squad in the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE next month.
Cross, along with Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Filer, are some of the experienced players who missed out on selection for the World Cup squad but will have a chance to prove their worth in Ireland. They will be joined by promising young talents, and the stand-in captain is keen on seeing everyone make a case for future series.
“Whenever you wear an England shirt or more so in our regional stuff this summer, there is always a point to prove now,” Cross said. “There is always some big cricket on the horizon whether that’s ICC events, Ashes series, Test matches in South Africa.
“What we’re trying to achieve as an England Women’s group is a depth of players who can step into those roles whenever they might be required. There are always going to be disappointed people whenever ICC events come around because you can only take 15 away.
“Lauren Filer just missed out, but she’s had an unbelievable 18 months of cricket, especially in an England shirt, and I know the messaging from [head coach Jon Lewis] was she’s tracking in the right way, but the conditions might not necessarily have suited her in Bangladesh or the UAE.
“Ultimately, what drives a lot of people on is to make sure they’re in that squad for the next series.”
While not part of the World Cup squad, Cross is relishing the opportunity to captain her country, a role she never thought she would fulfill. Leading the team in the three ODIs and two T20Is against Ireland, the seasoned right-armer is excited about the chance to skipper the national side, having previously done so at domestic level for Lancashire Thunder and Manchester Originals. She aims to make the most of this unique opportunity, realizing it may be her only chance to do so.
“The tour comes so thick and fast that I’m hoping it dawns on me towards the back end of it,” Cross said. “I’ve told myself I just want to enjoy the opportunity and I’m not daft, it’s not something which might crop up again.
“This tour might be the only chance to captain my country, so I just want to make sure my overriding feeling is one of enjoyment and to not come away with any regrets.
This tour might be the only chance to captain my country, so I just want to make sure my overriding feeling is one of enjoyment and to not come away with any regrets.
Kate Cross on being named England captain to face Ireland
“There is not a mass of time to change things or influence, but hopefully what we can do as a group here is something special.
“It’s probably just starting to sink in a little bit now. The reality of playing a game of cricket and getting to go out and captain your country is the stuff dreams are made of.”
Ireland, on the other hand, enters the matches with confidence after bouncing back from not qualifying for the T20 World Cup by defeating Sri Lanka 2-1 in their home summer’s ODI series and drawing their T20I series 1-1. Gaby Lewis, standing in as captain for Laura Delany who is out with an ankle injury, is optimistic about continuing their progress by securing a series victory over England.
“It would be absolutely huge and it’s something we’re looking towards,” Lewis said. “We go in trying to win every game.
“Having been through a dip with not making the World Cup, I think we’ve flipped it on its head and turned it into a positive and used it to really drive us on in our home summer.
“We showed that in the Sri Lanka series, we’re ready to carry that on, and no doubt we’ve got the capability to win these two series.”
England Women tour of Ireland fixtures
- Saturday, September 7: Ireland vs England, first ODI (Belfast)
- Monday, September 9: Ireland vs England, second ODI (Belfast)
- Wednesday, September 11: Ireland vs England, third ODI (Belfast)
- Saturday, September 14: Ireland vs England, first T20I (Dublin)
- Sunday, September 15: Ireland vs England, second T20I (Dublin)
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Conclusion:
England Women’s tour of Ireland promises to be an exciting opportunity for both the players and fans, with the team aiming to build depth and discover new talents. Kate Cross’s captaincy debut adds an extra layer of intrigue to the series, while Ireland’s determination to continue their recent success sets the stage for engaging contests.
As the action unfolds in Belfast and Dublin, all eyes will be on the players to deliver their best performances and stake their claim for future selections. Both teams carry a sense of purpose and ambition, making this series a must-watch for cricket enthusiasts.
