Kate riding crest of a wave

IT’S OURS: Kate Cross (left) and Sarah Taylor show off the Ashes trophy, and right the England players celebrate victory over Australia.

Cricket:

ASHES heroine Kate Cross is hoping her exploits Down Under will earn her a place in the England Twenty20 squad for the World Cup in Bangladesh.

Cross (22), daughter of former Athletic striker David, played a major role in the England women’s Test victory over Australia in Perth, taking three wickets for 35 in both innings as the tourists won by 61 runs. She also played in several of the Twenty20 and one-day internationals.

England finally retained the Ashes with a T20 win in Hobart, sparking huge celebrations among the touring party.

For all her success on her Test debut, Kate is taking nothing for granted over her England future.

The Heywood CC product and first female to be accepted into the Lancashire CC academy said: “I don’t feel as though I have cemented my place in the team yet. I am certainly taking nothing for granted.

“But of course I would love to be selected for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh which runs alongside the men’s competition.”