Cricket: Kate Cross called up for England tour of Pakistan

Heywood cricketer and Lancashire Thunder captain Kate Cross has been named as part of the England Women squad for their December tour of Malaysia, where they'll play Pakistan in three one day international games (ODIs) and three international Twenty20 games (IT20s).

Cross and her team-mate, Sophie Ecclestone, have both been selected for the trip under their Rochdale-born captain, Heather Knight.

Cross began playing cricket at the age of eight, rising to international level after being the first female to be accepted into the Lancashire County Cricket Club academy.

In 2015, Cross became the first woman to play in the Central Lancashire League in its 123-year history. Cross made her Lancashire debut at the age of just 13 and became the first girl to be accepted into the Lancashire Academy at 15.

She won her first England cap in 2013 and has played for Thunder in every edition of the Women's Cricket Super League

Knight, 28, began playing cricket in boys’ and men’s teams when she was eight after moving to Plymouth.

A talented right-handed batswoman, she played for Plymstock Cricket Club and at county level for Devon.

She was part of the England squad which reclaimed the Ashes against Australia in 2013 and helped retain them in 2014.

Knight received an OBE on the 2018 New Year’s honour list and was named among Wisden Almanack’s Five Cricketers of the Year for 2017 after she led the women’s team to a triumphant World Cup victory that summer.

The three ODIs form part of the ICC Women's Championship, representing six points towards qualification for the 2021 ICC Women's World Cup – a tournament for which England have already guaranteed qualification.

The three IT20s represent chance to prepare for February's ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Australia.

All six matches will be live-streamed and available to watch in the UK.

Speaking to the England and Wales Cricket Board, captain Knight said: “We're looking forward to getting out there and getting back to international cricket.

"It's been a few months since our last game and there's been a fair bit of change in that time, so this tour is an opportunity to start a new era and move forward.

"There's a few younger faces in the group but also a lot of proven talent. I'm really happy with the group and we can't wait for the next few months."

Pakistan v England Schedule

• 9 December: First ODI, Pakistan v England, Kinrara Oval, 1.30am GMT
• 12 December: Second ODI, Pakistan v England, Kinrara Oval, 1.30am GMT 
• 14 December: Third ODI, Pakistan v England, Kinrara Oval, 1.30am GMT
• 17 December: First IT20, Pakistan v England, Kinrara Oval, 2am GMT 
• 19 December: Second IT20, Pakistan v England, Kinrara Oval, 2am GMT 
• 20 December: Third IT20, Pakistan v England, Kinrara Oval, 2am GMT