Alex Hartley has expressed her shock at receiving a cold reception from former England teammates during the Women’s Ashes series, following her controversial comments regarding the team’s fitness. Hartley, now working as a pundit for BBC and other networks in Australia, claims that her comments led to her being snubbed by players, including former teammate Sophie Ecclestone, who allegedly refused to give her a TV interview during the first T20 match on Monday.
Hartley, 31, retired from international cricket in 2023 and had raised concerns about England’s fitness levels after their early exit from the 2023 T20 World Cup. In the wake of their disappointing performance, she stated that “80% of the England team are fit and athletic enough,” but also highlighted that some players’ fitness was letting the team down.
“I’ve been hung out to dry,” Hartley told BBC Test Match Special. “The reason I said England aren’t as fit as Australia is because I want them to compete, I want them to be better, and I want them to win. But I’ve been given the cold shoulder ever since—not by everyone, but by a few individuals, coaches, and players.”
Hartley’s comments about fitness came under scrutiny from England’s head coach, Jon Lewis, who disagreed with her assessment. “I don’t believe the criticism was fair. Our players are very fit,” Lewis said after Hartley’s remarks. “Fitness had absolutely nothing to do with us losing that game.”
The fallout from Hartley’s comments has been palpable, as she noted, “Clearly I have upset them. Jon Lewis has said there isn’t a problem with fitness in his squad. They think I am wrong, which is fine—I’m entitled to my opinions, and they are entitled to theirs. It is my job to say something that needs to be better, and I did. The way I have been treated since has been totally unfair.”
Despite the tensions, Hartley clarified on social media that the situation is not entirely negative. “To be clear, there are some members of the England team who have been really disappointing, but by no means all. For some, friendships remain unchanged. For others, I’ve been shocked and surprised by their response,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Hartley’s comments about fitness followed England’s crushing defeat to Australia, which sealed the Ashes for the hosts with a 4-0 lead in the series. The loss marked England’s fourth consecutive defeat in Australia, contributing to ongoing criticism of their performances in the tournament. Catching issues and other fitness concerns had marred their T20 World Cup exit, leading to Hartley’s outspoken critique.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined to comment on the matter when approached by BBC Sport.
Frosty Reception Throughout Tour
BBC cricket reporter Ffion Wynne, reporting from Australia, noted that the atmosphere has been tense for Hartley since the start of the tour. While Hartley did not name any players in her initial remarks, it is clear that her fitness-related comments have caused some unrest within the squad. The situation is further complicated by the broader scrutiny surrounding head coach Jon Lewis, whose position has been questioned due to the team’s underwhelming performances.
The Australian team, already ahead in the Ashes, is unlikely to be bothered by the turmoil within the England camp, with public interest in England’s struggles running high. The Australian public, who have witnessed England teams unravel before—such as the men’s team during the 2013-14 Ashes—will be keenly following developments.
As the series continues, England’s management will need to address the internal tensions before they escalate further, with hopes of regaining control over both their performances and team dynamics.
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