Yorkshire v Lancashire: 'Inspirational' Kate Cross set to bring curtain down on career in Roses derby
IT’S not too often you’ll hear someone from Yorkshire praising someone from Lancashire, but in fairness retiring Red Rose bowler Kate Cross kind of transcends the divide.
Tomorrow, at Headingley, ex-England seamer Cross will play the final game of a decorated career both at international and domestic level.
In recent years, she has made Headingley a home away from home having represented both the Northern Superchargers and Sunrisers Leeds with distinction in The Hundred.
It will be time to pay tribute to a special player whose influence on the field has been supplemented by that off it, with Cross a huge ambassador for the development of the women’s game.
Hosts’ Yorkshire will be just hoping she doesn’t enjoy her day too much on Saturday when Lancashire visit to bring the curtain down on the 2026 summer in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup (10.30am).
Fast bowler Hannah Rainey has been with Yorkshire for a season-and-a-bit now having moved from Lancashire in late 2025.
She knows 34-year-old Cross very well, as she does Lancashire all-rounder Fi Morris, who will play her last game before retirement.
“Great memories with them,” said Rainey. “And I look up to them quite a lot, especially Crossy.
“I grew up watching her play, and when I got the chance to meet her when I started getting involved at Lancs, it was kind of a little bit of a ‘pinch-me’ moment.
“I've probably never said that to her, she probably won't know.
“She's had an amazing career and Fi too, and I think they've probably inspired a lot of players.
“It'll be a special game for those two, no doubt, and I have a lot of fond memories with them.”
Niceties aside, Yorkshire are ahead 2-1 in this season’s Roses derbies. They won in the One-Day Cup at Emirates Old Trafford and again there in the Vitality Blast before losing in the same competition to them at York.
Rainey has been in impressive form of late with six wickets in her last four games, and she is keen to put in a performance against her former county.
The Scotland international added: “I like getting anyone out, but I’m not one of those nasty, nasty fasties. That’s not in my character. But I will be looking to get wickets against my old team, definitely.”
Defeat at Somerset on Wednesday ended a five-game winning streak for the Red Rose and ended their chances of knockout qualification.
Unfortunately, Yorkshire have lost each of their last six games.
They sit second-from-bottom in the table and victory would significantly boost their chances of staying above Essex, who beat them at Chelmsford on Wednesday.
A dead rubber in terms of prizes, but there’s never, ever a friendly when it comes to a battle between Yorkshire and Lancashire. It promises to be a fascinating end to the White Rose county’s first season of Tier 1 cricket.
Yorkshire beat Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford in late April, with Australian Jess Jonassen scoring a century and taking four wickets in a superb all-round display.