FROM holidaying in Australia to isolating with the parents, 2020 hasn’t exactly panned out how cricketer Kate Cross imagined it would.

Bury's England bowler was taken to hospital at the beginning of March after injuring herself in the warm-up ahead of her side’s 46-run win against West Indies in the T20 World Cup.

The unlucky seamer was stretchered off the field just as the toss was about to take place at the Sydney Showground Stadium capping a miserable tournament for the former Heywood Cricket Club player.

Now the current coronavirus pandemic has put paid to any further cricketing plans as the 28-year-old continues her rehabilitation in lockdown mode as the sport waits to see if any balls will be bowled this summer.

“I was supposed to be staying out in Australia for Lauren Winfield’s wedding and tying in a holiday,” said Lancashire favourite Cross.

“Unfortunately, however, having damaged all the ligaments in my ankle in the final group match of the tournament, I had to work out if moon boots and beaches would mix.

"So with that in mind, I prematurely came home after the World Cup and began rehab.

“It’s obviously a strange time for everyone, especially the cricketers, with the season being delayed and at this stage not knowing when we might play cricket again is a question that is impossible to answer.

"The England girls were actually on player leave until April 14, so unlike a lot of the county cricketers, we were taking time away from the game.

"So, in that sense we so far haven’t missed out on any cricket.”

The daughter of FA Cup-winning footballer David Cross, Kate, 28, played cricket for Heywood Cricket Club from the age of eight, and – since she was selected for the Lancashire Women’s senior side aged just 13 – was long considered an England prospect.

She made headlines in April 2015 when she became the first woman to play in the Central Lancashire League for Heywood, taking 3-19 and following this up later in the season with a career-best 8-47.

The former Bury Grammar School pupil said: “My isolation has been spent at my mum and dad’s house, where they have a much bigger garden so I can at least get fresh air, but I have mostly used this isolation period to do my rehab programme.

"It’s been frustrating not being able to train how I would like but my rehab has given me a small amount of focus and something to tick off each day.

“Otherwise, I have been keeping myself busy with various bits and pieces.

"Reading, jigsaws and I think I have watched a world-record breaking number of episodes of (ITV quiz show) The Chase!”

Cross, is a regular for the national side, but has been thinking about a media career since being told she was a natural in front of the camera after appearing in a televised interview during her Test debut in early 2014.

That has led her to the world of podcasting alongside fellow Lancashire player and good friend Alex Hartley, the left arm spinner a World Cup winner with England in 2017.

“Alex Hartley and I have been recording our podcast called No Balls: The Cricket Podcast more regularly and have tried to get an episode out every week,” she said.

“The beauty of isolation means we have been able to get some guests on the show.

"The likes of Keaton Jennings and Glenn Maxwell have been easier to track down since we went into lockdown.

"We generally record an episode on a Wednesday and aim to edit it and have it ready to go live on Friday morning.

“This week I also thought now would be a perfect time to start a course and try to learn a new skill, so I bought a package which has allowed me to learn British Sign Language.

"A skill I have always wanted to learn but never seemed to be able to find the time.

"I have tried to look at this situation in a positive light.

"It is not very often that I am home long enough to spend lots of time with my family and so moving in with my mum and dad has almost given me bonus time with them I might not have got had the cricket season started on time.”