England pacer Kate Cross describes being omitted from the Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka as “savage” and is yet to come to terms with it.
The 33-year-old seamer, who had taken 101 wickets in 76 ODIs, was the biggest surprise left out when head coach Charlotte Edwards announced the 15-player group on Thursday. The event will be held between 30 September and 2 November.
Injury concerns and recent form battles
Cross has battled issues since a back injury at the close of 2024, which has kept her back this year. She played a mere four ODIs last summer and took three wickets in them.
Nevertheless, she was selected to start the bowling in the first ODI against India last month. Later, she didn’t feature in the truncated second ODI at Lord’s and then was dropped for the decider at Chester-le-Street, which England also lost, and thus the series remained 2-1.
Cross stated when she wasn’t selected for that last game, that’s when she felt perhaps her World Cup opportunity was over.
Cross: “It all happened too quickly”
In an interview on the No Balls podcast, Cross described how fast it had happened.
“What I’m really struggling to get my head around is that it all feels like it’s happened so quickly,” she said.
“I’ve just clearly fallen out of favour with Lot [Edwards]. I haven’t processed it. It’s still really raw.”
She stated that the day she learned she wasn’t picked was one of the worst days of her entire career, making her feel “quite sick.”
“Being in the best XI is a different conversation,” Cross said. “But not even being on the plane – it feels savage.”
England’s bowling set-up and choices
With Nat Sciver-Brunt set to recover and bowl in the competition, Edwards made no move to add further seamers. The team instead features Em Arlott, Lauren Bell, and Lauren Filer as the three seamers, with conditions in India and Sri Lanka set to suit spinners.
Cross now remains in a state of uncertainty. She is going to play for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, but still hasn’t had a proper conversation with Edwards regarding whether she will be available for covering injuries.
“That’s nearly the toughest,” Cross stated. “If somebody gets hurt, you could be playing in three weeks in a World Cup – then all that you feel now is so confused and manipulated nearly because you got to turn it around.”
Support messages despite disappointment
Although she is disappointed deeply, Cross stated the reactions of others provided her with comfort.
“The messages I’ve had from everyone have been amazing,” she said. “And ultimately, I’m not going to be playing some cricket – it’s minuscule in that sense. But it’s hard to take because I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to deserve not being on that plane.”
