Kate Cross says she is doing everything she can to be fit for Sunday’s Ashes opener in Sydney as she continues her return from a back injury.
Cross, England’s reliable and experienced seamer, suffered back spasms during the third ODI in South Africa last month and missed the subsequent Test. Further scans upon returning home revealed a slightly bulging disc and he was left out of the only Ashes warm-up, against a Governor General’s XI, which was knocked out in the 29th over on Thursday, to continue preparing for a return to the game.
“It’s been a bit frustrating and I’m the type of person who’s not used to getting injuries,” Cross told ESPNcricinfo when asked how his recovery was progressing and whether he was on track to play the first ODI in North Sydney. Oval.
“It’s been a bit of a difficult period, but it’s just one of them. I have to take it day by day, take each day as it comes and see what I can and can’t do. But obviously The Ashes is such a great series I’m desperate to play a role in it, so I’m working very hard.
As such, he can offer a wealth of advice to England’s younger players, but would obviously prefer to help out on the pitch. Making his Test debut in Perth during the 2013–14 series, he played a key role in taking three wickets in each innings, including three for none in seven balls in Australia’s fourth innings as they eventually fell 61 runs short. of his 185 races. aim.
Cross, who is part of the ODI and Test squads for this series, bowled in the nets at
cricket Central in Sydney on Thursday and England women’s head coach Jon Lewis was hoping for some clarity on her playing fitness in the coming days. .
“I had another scan when I got back to the UK and there was a small lump on a disc in my back and a bit of fluid there,” Cross said. “I had an epidural over the Christmas period to try and calm everything down. Back injuries can be a bit unpredictable so I’m working on it every day.
“It’s always frustrating to have an injury and especially an injury that prevents me from doing my job. “When it’s something that physically prevents you from bowling, then that’s what I find a little bit more difficult.
“I’m still very lucky to have the best science and medicine equipment available and I’m in Australia working very hard to try to get fit as quickly as possible. If I can play some cricket, if I don’t, I hope I can contribute outside of the game as well. field and help a fairly young bowling attack.
A key part of that young attack is quick Lauren Filer, who endured a difficult outing during the warm-up match at a soggy North Sydney Oval, losing her footing several times in the throw. But Cross was confident the problem was more due to the conditions than Filer’s pace or action.
“I haven’t talked to her, but I was very wet,” Cross said. “I think it probably shows that we shouldn’t have started in those conditions, especially so close to an Ashes series, starting on Sunday on the same ground.
“We were really aware that every time it rained, the court on Sunday got wet. So I think it was literally the foundation underneath it. I don’t think it had anything to do with the pace or his running or anything like that. “I think it was just the conditions of the day. She’s a bit like Mark Wood anyway, isn’t she? “He’s on deck sometimes, so I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine.”
Filer’s sharp pace surprised Australia at times on his international debut in the 2023 Ashes Test but, in the prevailing conditions, it was England’s spinners who did all the damage this week.
Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, leader of England’s spin attack, claimed three wickets, crucially breaking a 91-run opening stand between Australia captain Alyssa Healy and newcomer Georgia Voll, the latter impressing with a half-century to keep the pressure on. in your case of selection. in a higher packaged order.
Voll was outstanding on his debut against India in December as Healy recovered from a knee problem. Healy was expected to test his wicket-keeping ability during the Governor General’s game, but Australia did not have the opportunity to play. Instead, she was tested in a practice session after the match was suspended, and she emerged from that exercise unscathed.
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