Reflecting on a Challenging Ashes Tour
Kate Cross, a veteran of the England Women’s Cricket team, is candid about the recent Women’s Ashes tour in Australia, where England suffered an unprecedented 16-0 defeat. This lopsided scoreline came as a shock to both players and fans, especially considering the team’s impressive performance during the home Ashes campaign in 2023, where they managed to square the series 8-8 with Australia. Cross acknowledges that the tour was a low point, not only in terms of cricket but also in terms of fan engagement. "Ultimately, I feel like we might’ve lost a few fans in the last couple of months, which is really sad from our point of view," she reflects. The devastating loss has prompted the ECB to conduct a thorough review, which has involved interviews with players and staff, and is expected to provide recommendations for improvement.
Cultural Shift Needed
Cross believes that cultural change is essential for England’s resurgence. "There’s areas that we probably know we need to address from cricket points of view, but also from probably cultural points of view as well," she emphasizes. The review’s outcome is still unknown, but Cross is hopeful that it will address the underlying issues and set the stage for the next generation of players to aspire to represent England. She highlights the importance of both on-field performance and off-field conduct in maintaining the team’s appeal to the public. "We need to be a better group of players and a better version of ourselves," she asserts, underscoring the collective responsibility to rebuild the team’s image.
Personal Struggles and Career Management
For Cross, the Ashes tour was particularly challenging due to a bulging disc in her back, which kept her sidelined throughout despite her best efforts to prove her fitness. This setback, coming more than a decade after her breakthrough performance in Perth during the 2013-14 tour, forced her to reflect deeply on her career. "My reflections on my trip were quite unusual. I didn’t get to play a game of cricket, but as a 33-year-old getting ruled out of an Ashes series was devastating," she shares. This experience has prompted her to rethink how she manages her professional life, especially with the new county-based structure that offers more support to female players. Cross hopes this support system will help her stay in the game and continue to contribute to the team.
Fan Interest and Team Representation
The team’s poor performance in Australia has raised concerns about the impact it may have on young girls’ interest in the sport. Cross is acutely aware of this issue and the need to portray a positive image. "Ultimately, as players, we still want to try and get young girls interested in the game and us losing quite drastically isn’t going to do that," she explains. The challenge now is to regroup and reconnect with fans, ensuring that the excitement and optimism seen during the 2023 home Ashes series are not lost. "We’re going to have to have a real look at how we want to portray ourselves as a team moving forward and try and get a bit of love back from our fans," she adds, emphasizing the importance of fan engagement in the team’s future success.
Addressing the Pay Gap in the Hundred
The pay gap between male and female players in the Hundred, a popular domestic T20 competition, has also come under scrutiny. While leading male earners will see their salaries increase by 60% to £200,000, the top female earners will earn £65,000, a 30% rise. This disparity, despite the overall progress in women’s cricket, is a cause for concern. "I would hope to see that it happens quite quickly, especially with how vocal the players were about the pay gap getting bigger," Cross says. She acknowledges the positive impact the Hundred has had on women’s cricket, including increased exposure and financial investment, but emphasizes the need for equitable compensation. "It was obviously a disappointment, but I’m always of the bigger picture, that the Hundred has done a lot for the women’s game," she notes, hoping that the gap will continue to narrow in the coming years.
Moving Forward with the PCA
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) is actively working to address the pay gap and other issues in the Hundred. Daryl Mitchell, the PCA chief executive, has expressed surprise at the salary announcements and the need for better communication. "From our side, I think particularly the announcement of the salaries took us a little bit by surprise this time around," Mitchell reveals. The PCA is forming a working group to lobby the ECB and ensure that the concerns of female players are heard and addressed. "There’s been some pretty robust discussions about that process, it’s fair to say, over the last couple of months," Mitchell adds. While the road to equality is long, the commitment of players and the PCA to push for change is a positive sign. Cross remains optimistic that the increased investment in women’s cricket will lead to a more balanced and supportive environment, paving the way for a brighter future for the England Women’s team.
