Former England player Alexandra Hartley said the England women’s team turned their back on her on the sidelines of the Women’s Ashes because of her previous comments about the team’s fitness level.
Hartley, who is now a broadcaster, felt that her views that emerged after England’s elimination in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates were not well received by captain Heather Knight and coach Jon Lewis .
England had conceded a 0-8 lead in the Women’s Ashes to Australia following their defeat in the first T20I in Sydney. Hartley revealed that England’s leading player, Sophie Ecclestone, refused to be interviewed by her.
“Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a television interview with me today (Monday). “The England team have abandoned me – none of them talk to me on the edge,” he told the BBC’s TMS podcast.
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“The reason I said they weren’t 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,” Hartley added.
Despite starting the T20 World Cup with wins against Bangladesh, South Africa and Scotland, England lost the final group match to the West Indies by six wickets as a lower run rate denied them a place in the last 16.
In the ongoing Ashes, they were outclassed by Australia in the ODI series losing 0-3. Australia will retain the trophy after taking an 8-0 lead with victory in the first T20I.
Hartley said the team is entitled to its opinion after coach Lewis denied there were any issues with fitness or locker room.
“Jon Lewis came out and said there is no fitness problem in his team, there is no fitness problem in the England environment. They obviously think that in my opinion I’m completely wrong, which is fine, absolutely fine. “I have a right to my opinions and they have a right to theirs,” Hartley said.
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“But they’ll say my comments were unfair, so if that’s the way our relationship is going to move forward, so be it… If fitness isn’t an issue, then it’s the athleticism of the few, right? “added the 2017 ODI World Cup winner.
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