England legend rejects interview with former team-mate turned commentator after fitness criticism | Women’s Ashes 2024-25

Hartley’s criticism of England’s fitness levels

England were eliminated at the group stage of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. After their exit, Hartley had criticized the cricketers’ fitness. She accused some cricketers of “letting the team down” with their fitness levels. Captain Heather Knight and coach Jon Lewis had subsequently denied that fitness had resulted in England’s elimination.

According to an ESPNcricinfo reportHartley has now claimed that Ecclestone had “refused to be interviewed by her on TV”, while the team has given her “the cold shoulder” in the wake of the criticism. Hartley used to play for England until 2019 and had played at international level alongside some current England cricketers including Ecclestone.

England’s ongoing Ashes campaign in Australia is off to a dismal start. Having won all three ODIs and the first T20I, Australia have already taken an unassailable 8-0 lead in the 16-point contest and have retained the Ashes with four matches remaining. The 57-run defeat in T20Is was also England’s second-highest in the format.

Hartley: I clearly disturbed them

“Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today,” Hartley told the BBC Test Match special podcast after the defeat. “I have been hung out to dry by the English team: none of them will speak to me on the border.

“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 the Ashes and world championships.

“I give my opinion and I’ve been getting 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 they’ve all been the same, because they haven’t. Some of the players have been absolutely outstanding: I’ve spoken to them on the street, on the ground, wherever. But a few individuals—coaches, players—they literally haven’t looked at me.

“Obviously I’ve upset them. Jon Lewis has come out and said there’s not a problem with fitness in his team. There’s not a problem with fitness in the England environment. They obviously think I’m taking wrong in my opinion.Which is fine, just 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 improved and I did, but the way I’ve been treated since I think it’s totally unfair. But they’re going to say my comments were unfair , so if this is the way our relationship is going to move forward, then so be it.

“If fitness isn’t an issue, athleticism is from a few, right?”

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