Kate Cross Blog: England cricketer on International Women's Day

England's Kate Cross talks about her cricketing roots and how she tries to inspire young girls on International Women's Day...

Happy International Women's Day!

So today marks the day that women are celebrated worldwide. For me, it's a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the progress that women have made in sport, particularly women's cricket. 

I remember as a scruffy little eight-year-old joining my local cricket club, Heywood CC. I was the only girl in the under-11 age group and as you can imagine, that brought with it some attention and chat around match time.

"They've got a girl on their team, we'll easily win this," they would say. "Who can hit her for the biggest six?" As a natural competitor, I'd use this to spur me on and there was no greater feeling than getting the boys out!

Proving people wrong

I particularly recall playing in a third team match away somewhere in Manchester when I was about 15 with my mum was sat on the sidelines. When I came on to bowl she overheard some of the opposition crowd say, "They've got a girl playing for them, they must be desperate, scraping the barrel aren't they?"

Mum bit her tongue and watched their faces as I took four wickets. I have always loved to prove people wrong!

I'd like to think that perceptions of women playing a male-dominated sport have come a long way since then. There is still the odd comment flying around on social media of course, but on the whole I think people now have a better understanding of the standards we have reached. 

So much so, that last summer I made my first-team debut for Heywood CC in the Central Lancashire League, something I had wanted to do since I was that scruffy eight-year-old.

I'm the first girl to play in our league and I'd like to think that other young girls now starting their cricket careers won't be held back by their gender.  

#PledgeForParity

It's a really special time for female cricketers. The last three years have exceeded all expectations: the introduction of professional contracts, increase in ICC prize money, Kia sponsorship of the England women's team, live TV and radio coverage of the entire Women's Ashes Series, the first Women's Big Bash League, and this summer will see the inaugural Women's Cricket Super League.

Sometimes, being in the middle of all this, you almost take for granted what is actually going on. 

We always talk as an England team about pushing boundaries, smashing them in fact, and becoming the world's best. This became our campaign for the Women's Ashes last year, as we feel it fitted perfectly with what we were trying to achieve as a team - both on and off the field. 

I personally feel especially lucky because I am a Chance to Shine coaching ambassador, which means that I get to go into schools and help inspire some young kids to play this sport which I fell in love with as a little girl. 

It's incredible to think of the progress we have made in women's cricket and it's so exciting to think what is ahead. 

I'd like to take this chance to thank you all for your continued support and of course, happy International Women's Day!