Cricket: Morley signs Lancashire contract as Cross returns to England fold

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It has been quite a week for two of Heywood Cricket Club’s home-grown stars.

17-year-old left arm spinner Jack Morley signed his first professional contract with Lancashire, on Tuesday 12 March, following a winter that has seen him train with and play for the England Young Lions.

Kate Cross meanwhile has returned to the England Women’s side in some style, helping her country pull off a dramatic victory over India to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.

Jack Morley has been with the club throughout his junior career and continues to impress at all levels with Lancashire, so much so that he has recently been involved in the Young Lions tours to India and Bangladesh this winter.

He said: “It is a dream come true to sign professional terms with Lancashire.

“After coming through the age-group pathway and joining the Academy, this is the next step for me and I hope to re-pay the faith that the club have put in me.

“It’s a hugely exciting to be part of the squad and having really enjoyed the last few months away with the England Young Lions side out in India and Bangladesh after Christmas, I’m really looking forward to the start of the season.”

Lancashire’s Performance Director and Assistant Coach, Mark Chilton, added: “We are really pleased that Jack has signed his first professional contract with the club.

“He impressed the coaching staff with his attitude and performances throughout the 2018 season and he deserves the opportunity to continue his development with the Lancashire squad in 2019.”

For Kate Cross it has been a winter that has seen her travel to Perth to play state cricket for Western Fury and in the WBBL for the Perth Scorchers before joining up with the England squad in India.

Cross, another product of the Heywood youth system, was playing her first T20 Internationals for nearly 4 years as she helped England to a clean sweep in the three match series in Guwahati. After taking wickets in the first two matches the final game came down to the last over.

India looked to have won the game, needing only 3 to win with 6 wickets in hand but Kate delivered three dot balls, followed by two wickets in consecutive balls and finally conceded just a single off the final delivery to see the visitors home by one run.

The Heywood seamer has now moved on to Sri Lanka with the squad as they prepare to take on the hosts in a three match ODI series and another three match IT20 series.