England seamer Kate Cross confident of being fully fit for Women's Ashes campaign

<p>England bowler Kate Cross says she will be ready for the Women's Ashes campaign, starting this week, despite feeling the effects of an illness.</p>

<p>Cross was laid low by the tropical disease during a pre-season tour to India in March and went through nine unsuccessful rounds of antibiotics that left her fearful of missing out against Australia.</p>

<p>However, the latest round of treatment has flushed the infection out of her system and, while Cross has spent time on the sidelines, she bowled 18 overs in a warm-up against an Australia A side last week.</p>

<p>Cross would ordinarily prefer to have more overs banked but she is confident she will be firing for the one-off Test, starting on Thursday, that acts as a curtain-raiser for the multi-format Ashes series.</p>

<p>She said: "I'm the kind of bowler that likes rhythm and long spells.</p>

<p>"Not just the last game that we played last week against the As, but the last three weeks of prep have actually been brilliant.</p>

<p>"I think I've probably learned a lot about myself in that I've got a lot of cricket under my belt and you don't always have to tick all the boxes to feel good.</p>

<p>"As much as my preparation hasn't been the plan A that I would have wanted, it's still been great prep for myself."</p>

<p>With Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Sciver-Brunt now retired, Cross is likely to open the bowling if, as expected, she plays her seventh Test at Trent Bridge - which will be played over five days.</p>

<p>Cross could even be responsible for sending down the first ball of the series, a prospect that leaves her with mixed emotions.</p>

<p>She added: "That's actually scared me a little bit, to be honest, because there were times where I didn't know if I'd be well enough to be thinking about playing Ashes cricket.</p>

<p>"We always prioritised my health before we prioritised thinking about that first ball.</p>

<p>"But when you're a kid in the back garden playing Ashes cricket with your brother and your sister, you always think about those moments.</p>

<p>"Being able to do them on a big stage is really exciting. It would be a really proud moment if I got to take the new ball, especially if my parents and family are there to watch it as well."</p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/cricket/news/england-seamer-kate-cross-confident-fully-fit-womens-ashes-campaign">England seamer Kate Cross confident of being fully fit for Women's Ashes campaign </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>