Tensions rise! Alex Hartley accuses Sophie Ecclestone of refusing TV interview after fitness critique

Alex Hartley, England's former World Cup-winning spinner and current broadcaster, has revealed that some current England women’s cricket team players have "given the cold shoulder" to her after she slammed their fitness during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in October 2024.

England Women had a tough T20 World Cup where they suffered a shocking loss to West Indies and made an early exit from the group stage. After which, the former England cricketer slammed the poor fitness of some women players and blamed it for the disappointing campaign.

Alex Hartley reveals tensions with England Women's players after criticizing their fitness

This open criticism irked the England women’s cricket team, and now they are not even talking to the cricket pundit Alex Hartley, who has also recently launched a fresh attack on the national players for their disastrous performance against Australia in the ongoing Women’s Ashes series.

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England Women have been badly struggling to deliver in the multi-format Ashes series against Australia. They have already been whitewashed by the Australia Women in the three-match ODI series and even suffered a 57-run loss in the first T20I in Sydney, ensuring the hosts retain the Women’s Ashes 2025.

After the first T20I match, Hartley revealed that she wanted to interview Sophie Ecclestone but the England left-arm spinner “refused” her request. She also claimed that many England players have avoided her and ignored her completely ever since she criticized their fitness. Hartley explained she only wanted England to compete better and win the tournaments, but the players and coach are trying to prove her wrong.

Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me: Alex Hartley

Alex Hartley said on the BBC's TMS podcast: “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. 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.”

The well-known broadcaster further added, “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, and wherever. But a few individuals—coaches, players—they literally haven't looked at me.”

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Alex Hartley says she has been treated unfairly by England players

The former cricketer also slammed England’s fielding in the ongoing Women’s Ashes series as they failed to match the “athleticism” of the Australian women’s cricket team, and she ended up upsetting his national team. Alex Hartley also revealed that England Women coach Jon Lewis approached her and said there isn't a problem with fitness in his squad.

Alex Hartley signed off by saying, “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.”