Ecclestone rejected post-ashes interview, says Alex Hartley in stunning revelation over her comments on fitness.
Sophie Ecclestone “refused” to be interviewed by her on TV and that she has been “given the cold shoulder” by England players, says Alex Hartley
After their unexpected loss to the West Indies in Dubai, Hartley, who has worked widely as a commentator and broadcaster after leaving professional cricket, had said that a few players were “letting the team down” with their level 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 round.
Hartley said she had been shut out after England lost by 57 runs in Monday’s first Twenty20 International in Sydney, which put Australia ahead 8-0 in the Ashes and guaranteed they would keep the championship.
“Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today,” she told the BBC’s TMS podcast. “I’ve been hung out to dry by the England team. None of them will talk to me on the boundary edge.
“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. 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.”
Throughout the Ashes, England’s fielding has been problematic. England’s three ODI losses at the beginning of the trip were caused by a number of mistakes, and Beth Mooney was dismissed early in her game-winning 75 in Sydney on Monday. It spurred Hartley to restate her opinion that Australia’s “athleticism” has been difficult for England to match throughout the series.
“I’ve upset them, clearly,” she said. “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. 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?”