England bowler Kate Cross, 33, is grappling with a significant back injury that has thrust her availability for the upcoming Ashes series into doubt. On Christmas Eve, she received an epidural to alleviate the discomfort, but the recovery timeline poses a challenge. With a recovery period that can span two to three weeks, her participation in Sunday's opening one-day international remains uncertain. This series could mark her last Ashes competition in Australia, with the next series scheduled for 2027 in England when Cross will be 35.
Cross, the most senior of England's seamers, has become a critical player whose absence could severely impact England's aspirations to reclaim the Ashes. The team has not won the series since 2014. Her injury saga began on December 11 during the third one-day international against South Africa, where she managed to bowl only five balls before succumbing to the injury. Despite some initial bowling upon arriving in Australia, her recovery has been slower than anticipated.
"I am 33 and this could be my last Ashes series," Cross remarked, highlighting the significance of the forthcoming matches in her career.
Cross's determination to participate is evident, but the constant pain she experiences complicates her efforts. She expressed the all-encompassing nature of her injury by stating:
"It is all you can think about too because it's not an injury where it just hurts when I try and bowl. It hurts when I try and put my shoes on. It hurts when I move in bed. Everything I do comes back to my back so I can't even try and switch off from it."
Her attempts to prepare for the series included a bowling session back in the UK after missing a Test win over South Africa, which unfortunately did not yield positive results. Despite these setbacks, Cross remains optimistic about her long-term recovery:
"If I didn't have any cricket until March, I wouldn't be worried. It's an injury that is going to be fine and I'll be fine."
Yet, with the Ashes looming, time is of the essence. Cross hopes that the epidural will work effectively within the expected timeframe:
"The injection that I had can take two to three weeks to really settle. In my head I was just like 'I'll have a needle in my back and I'll fix it'."
Leave a Reply