Kate Cross in line to become first woman to play for Heywood Cricket Club

Kate Cross from Heywood

Kate Cross might make Central Lancashire League history by becoming the first woman to play in the 123 year old league.

She is due to play for Heywood Cricket Club when they visit Clifton on Sunday (19 April), after playing second team cricket for the club last season.

However, as Cross is a professional cricketer, she is being paid in contract by the ECB as a central England player. This leaves a question to whether or not she can play for Heywood on Sunday as an amateur.

Heywood have contacted the CLL for clarification, and have not yet heard anything back about whether Cross can play for them or not. If she doesn’t this weekend, she will almost certainly be getting involved during the season before she heads towards representing England in the Ashes this summer.

John Rhodes, Chairman of Heywood Cricket Club, said: “She’s been selected and will probably play for us. I can’t see an objection to the registration because they haven’t been in touch about it, and there wasn’t a difference when she played for us last season.

“On Saturday we’re playing a friendly game against Middleton, in which Kate is included in the squad. Depending on how well Saturday goes, and whether or not the CLL deny her playing, we will be going forward with her playing for us on Sunday unless told otherwise.

“It’s a great honour to have a professional like her playing for the club, and I am delighted that she might be the first woman to play for us.”

Although Cross has played for England 15 times, she has three family members who have already played for Heywood.

Heywood currently have professional batsman Rob Nicol from New Zealand playing in their squad.