Amid all of this, former England World Cup-winning spinner Alex Hartley has disclosed tension with the current squad, citing a time Sophie Ecclestone turned down her request for a post-match interview. Hartley, who is currently a broadcaster, has come under fire from certain England players for his criticism of the team’s fitness after their early elimination from the T20 World Cup in October 2024.
The current multi-format Women’s Ashes match between England and Australia, the hosts, has gotten worse for the visitors. After losing the first Twenty20 International and losing the ODI series 3-0, England’s performance has come under heavy fire.
Following an unexpected loss to the West Indies in the league stage, England was unable to advance to the knockout stage. After that, Hartley made remarks about the players’ form and fitness that were meant to motivate them to get better, but it damaged her rapport with the team.
“I asked Sophie Ecclestone to do a TV interview today, but she declined. The England squad has hung me out to dry since they won’t speak to me on the boundary line. I stated that they were not as fit as Australia because I want them to compete with them, outperform them, and win international tournaments like the World Cup and the Ashes. I’m voicing my view, and ever since, the England squad has ignored me,” Hartley said on the BBC’s TMS podcast.
Clearly, I’ve irritated them: Alex Hartley
Alex Hartley also noted that she was criticising England because she wanted them to do better and meet Australia’s high standards. She acknowledged that, as a result of her remarks, some coaches and players had stopped interacting with her.
“I haven’t received the cold shoulder from everyone. Since they haven’t been the same, I don’t want to say that they have. Some of the players have been exceptional; I’ve talked to them anywhere—in the street, on the pitch, etc. However, some players and coaches haven’t given me a look,” she continued.
Notably, during the Ashes, there have been concerns about England’s fielding. Significant errors have brought attention to their problems, such as a missed catch by Beth Mooney, who went on to score a game-winning 75 in the opening Twenty20 International.
“Obviously, I’ve irritated them. In his own words, Jon Lewis has stated that there is no issue with fitness in his team or in the English atmosphere. They plainly believe that I am entirely mistaken, which is perfectly acceptable.
They have the right to their opinions, and I have the right to mine. I’m supposed to speak up when I notice something that needs improvement, which I did, but the way I’ve been treated lately seems completely unjust. However, they will claim that my remarks were unjust, so if that’s how our relationship develops going forward, then so be it. If fitness isn’t an issue, then it’s athleticism from a select few, was Hartley’s conclusion.
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