Alex Hartley, a former England cricketer and member of the 2017 World Cup-winning team, has expressed shock at being sidelined by some of her former team-mates during the Women’s Ashes. The tension stems from comments Hartley made about the fitness levels of some England players following their early exit from the 2023 T20 World Cup. Hartley had stated that, while many players were fit, some were letting the team down in terms of fitness, a remark that sparked backlash from certain members of the squad, including coach Jon Lewis, who disagreed with her assessment.
Now working as a pundit in Australia, Hartley revealed she was denied a TV interview by former team-mate Sophie Ecclestone during the first T20 match, highlighting the strained relationship. While Hartley acknowledged that not everyone in the team has treated her poorly, she admitted to feeling hurt by the reactions of a few players and coaches. Despite this, she emphasized that her criticism came from a place of wanting the team to improve and succeed, not from any personal animosity.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined to comment when approached by the BBC. The situation has added to the pressure on the England team, who have lost all four of their games in Australia, surrendering the Ashes at the earliest opportunity.