Alex Hartley Claims England Players Have ‘Cold-Shouldered’ Her After Fitness Criticism

Alex Hartley, current broadcaster and former England World Cup winner, has been engaged in tensions involving her former teammates.

Alex Hartley Claims England Players Have 'Cold-Shouldered' Her After Fitness Criticism
Alex Hartley Claims England Players Have ‘Cold-Shouldered’ Her After Fitness Criticism

The strained relationships arose from Hartley’s open criticism of the England women’s cricket team’s fitness levels during the 2024 T20 World Cup in October, where England faced an early exit from the group stage. There is a noticeable gap in the team’s dynamics as a result of Hartley’s honest assessment of the team’s fitness levels during the competition.

After their unexpected World Cup loss to the West Indies in Dubai, Hartley had previously said that a few players were “letting the team down” with their lack of fitness. Both Heather Knight and England’s coach and captain, Jon Lewis, denied that it had played a role in their elimination in the group stage.

After England’s defeat in the series’ first T20 International and failure to regain the Ashes, broadcaster Hartley asked Sophie Ecclestone to do a post-match interview. Hartley saw Ecclestone’s refusal of the proposal as a clear response to her earlier remarks regarding fitness.

Hartley said, “Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today. I’ve been hung out to dry by the England team: none of them will talk to me on the boundary edge,” on BBC’s TMS podcast.

Throughout the Ashes, England’s fielding has been poor. England’s three ODI losses at the beginning of the 2025 Women’s Ashes were caused by a number of mistakes, and Beth Mooney was dropped early in her game-winning 75 in Sydney on Monday in 1st T20I. It caused Hartley to restate her opinion that Australia’s “athleticism” has been difficult for England to match throughout the series.

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“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.

“I’ve upset them, clearly. 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,” added Hartley.

Lastly, Hartley acknowledged that not all players chose to avoid her, but she did express disappointment about how she has been treated. She admitted that some players and staff members have continued to be friends.

(Quotes sourced from EspnCricinfo)

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