‘I’ve been hung out to dry’ – BBC pundit fumes at England women’s team after they refused to speak to her
ALEX HARTLEY has revealed that she has been snubbed by England cricket stars.
The former spinner, 31, was part of England‘s Women’s World Cup-winning team in 2018.
In her new role as a BBC pundit, Hartley criticised her old team’s fitness levels following a shock defeat to the West Indies in October.
England have since flopped in the Women’s Ashes, with Australia comfortably racing into an unassailable 4-0 lead Down Under.
Hartley has since revealed that bowler Sophie Ecclestone refused to perform a TV interview with her ahead of Monday’s action.
Having claimed that some members of the squad were “letting their team down with their fitness” last year, Hartley now says that she is getting the “cold shoulder”.
Speaking on Test Match Special, she said: “I’ve been hung out to dry by the England team: none of them will talk to me on the boundary edge.”
Explaining why she said what she did, Hartley added: “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.
“Not all of them have given me the cold shoulder. I don’t want to say that they’ve all been the same, because they haven’t.
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“Some of the players have been absolutely outstanding: I’ve spoken to them in the street, at the ground, wherever. But a few individuals – coaches, players – they literally haven’t looked at me.”
Hartley then added that England coach Jon Lewis disagrees with her stance.
She went on: “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.
“It’s my job to say if I see something that needs to be better, and I did, but the way that I’ve been treated since I think is totally unfair.
“But they will say that my comments were unfair, so if that’s the way our relationship is going to be moving forwards, then so be it… If fitness isn’t a problem, then it’s athleticism from a few, isn’t it?”
She later added on social media: “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.”
Action is set to resume in Canberra this Thursday.