Kate Cross is eager for this summer's Ashes to be another launch pad for the women's game.

England and Australia locked horns in a thrilling multi-format series, which included three one-day internationals, three T20s and a one-off Test match.

The Aussies retained the urn after the series finished as a draw with eight points apiece and fast bowler Cross — who has taken 114 wickets in an England jersey — believes the standards set by both sides are a benchmark moving forward.

She told LiveScore: "We want to use these kind of series as a springboard — and the standards have now been set.

"As players, we're desperate for those kind of series to showcase what we can do.

"For a long time, no one really knew when the big women's games were on — you had to fight for the limelight.

"And this was the first time the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] marketed the men's and women's Ashes together — which I thought worked really well.

"We sold out the ODIs and had unbelievable crowds for the T20s, so it goes to show that if it's marketed properly people will come and watch."

Hundred success

Many members of England's Ashes squad also starred in the third edition of The Hundred, with Cross' Northern Superchargers side reaching this summer's final before losing to Southern Brave.

And the 32-year-old seamer believes the tournament has been a turning point for the women's game.

She said: "The Hundred is such a huge part of the women's game.

"Nowhere else in the world is there a tournament where men and women's teams have started on an equal playing field in terms of opportunity.

"And that's what we as female athletes have been crying out for, the right facilities and right settings to show what we can do.

"I also think The Hundred wouldn't be as popular without the men and women's teams being side-by-side.

"It's been such a huge turning point for the women's game in the UK."

But despite the huge strides taken in recent years, Cross is aware there is still a lot of work to be done — and is keen to see more women receive professional contracts in order to accelerate the growth.

She added: "I think we need to get more girls professionalised quicker, so that they can just think about cricket training and not worry about anything else.

"The more people we can do that for, the better.

"We've seen such an improvement in the women's game over the last two to three years since they brought in domestic contracts, so the proof is in the pudding."