Kate Cross: England bowler makes Central Lancashire League history

Cross is one of 18 centrally contracted players to the England and Wales cricket board

England seam bowler Kate Cross has become the first woman to play in the Central Lancashire League.

The 23-year-old Lancashire bowler took 3-19 for Heywood as they beat Clifton by eight wickets.

Her older brother Bobby Cross, who also plays for Heywood, hit 75 in the win but dropped a catch off her bowling.

"I never thought I would get the chance to play for the first team at Heywood, the club in which I grew up and learnt my cricket," she said.

"I'm extremely proud to be the first girl to play in our league and I hope we will see many more."

Cross, the daughter of ex-West Ham striker David Cross, started playing cricket at Heywood when she was growing up and at 15 she became the first girl to be admitted to the Lancashire cricket academy.