Alex Hartley: Former England spinner turned broadcaster says team have 'hung me out to dry' after fitness comments

cricket Wednesday 22 January 2025 13:42, UK

Former England cricketer and TV pundit Alex Hartley says she has been "hung out to dry" by the current England team after she questioned their fitness levels.

The former spinner claimed current bowler Sophie Ecclestone refused a TV interview with her ahead of the first Women's Ashes T20 on Monday.

Hartley, who won the World Cup with England back in 2017, came out and criticised England's fitness back in October when they suffered an early exit in the T20 World Cup following a shock loss to West Indies in Dubai.

She said that some of the England players were "letting their team down" with their fitness

As England slumped to a defeat on Monday which handed Australia an unassailable 8-0 lead in the Women's Ashes, Hartley said Ecclestone had refused to speak to her as the team continued to give her the "cold shoulder".

"I've been hung out to dry by the England team: none of them will talk to me on the boundary edge," Hartley told the BBC's Test Match Special.

"The reason I said that they were not as fit as Australia is because I want them to compete with Australia, I want them to be better than Australia, and I want them to win Ashes and World Cups. I'm giving my opinion, and I've been given the cold shoulder from the England team ever since.

"Not all of them have given me the cold shoulder. I don't want to say that they've all been the same, because they haven't. Some of the players have been absolutely outstanding: I've spoken to them in the street, at the ground, wherever. But a few individuals - coaches, players - they literally haven't looked at me."

Hartley believes that her comments on the side's fitness have upset head coach Jon Lewis and the squad but insists that if it isn't a general fitness problem among the squad, the issue must be the "athleticism of a few".

"I've upset them, clearly," she added.

"Jon Lewis has come out and said there isn't a problem with fitness in his squad, there isn't a problem with fitness in the England environment. They obviously think I'm completely wrong in my opinion - which is fine, absolutely fine. I'm entitled to my opinions, and they're entitled to theirs.

"It's my job to say if I see something that needs to be better, and I did, but the way that I've been treated since I think is totally unfair. But they will say that my comments were unfair, so if that's the way our relationship is going to be moving forwards, then so be it… If fitness isn't a problem, then it's athleticism from a few, isn't it?"

England wicketkeeper Amy Jones stressed the team still have "a lot of love" for Hartley despite her comments, adding that she "doesn't think it is the case" her former team-mate has been shunned.

"It's a shame to read that," Jones told reporters in Australia. "We all respect that commentators have their opinions and it's Alex's job to say how she feels, and we all respect that.

"Hartley's a great personality and we have a lot of love for her in the group, so I definitely don't think that's the case."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain also addressed the fallout from Hartley's comments on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, saying: "I thought what Alex Hartley said was pretty fair."

Hussain, who himself had the odd run-in with the media during his playing career - including famously holding three fingers up to the commentary box at Lord's after scoring a century batting at No 3 in an ODI final against India in 2002 - added: "It's part of her job to call it as she sees it. And it's part of you to react.

"I've been there, with three fingers held up to [Ian] Botham, [Bob] Willis and [Jonathan] Agnew.

"It's also part of your responsibility to do the media. But I've known the odd player in the men's game actually who will ask the question, 'who is doing the interview?'

"She questioned the fitness and the fielding in particular. And obviously certain members of the team have reacted poorly to that."

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