Alex Hartley left ‘shocked’ as England star ‘refuses interview’ after Ashes loss

Alex Hartley left ‘shocked’ as England star ‘refuses interview’ after Ashes loss

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Former England spinner Alex Hartley has claimed that Sophie Ecclestone refused a tv interview after Heather Knight’s aspect suffered a heavy Ashes defeat to Australia.

The hosts retained the Ladies’s Ashes with victory within the first T20 in Sydney extending their lead within the multi-format sequence to an unassailable 8-0.

It extends England’s hunt for fulfillment within the contest to greater than a decade, piling extra stress on coach Jon Lewis and captain Knight after a sequence of latest disappointments.

Hartley, who’s working in Australia for TNT Sports activities and the BBC, was closely vital of the set-up after their T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to the West Indies final yr, suggesting {that a} handful of gamers have been “letting the crew down” with under par requirements of health.

And the pundit, who was a part of the aspect that gained the 2017 World Cup below Knight’s captaincy, believes she is now being punished for these feedback by sections of the squad, with left-arm spinner Ecclestone refusing to talk after defeat the SCG.

“Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me at this time,” Hartley advised the BBC’s Take a look at Match Particular podcast. “I have been frolicked to dry by the England crew: none of them will speak to me on the boundary edge.

“The rationale I mentioned that they weren’t as match as Australia is as a result of I would like them to compete with Australia, I would like them to be higher than Australia, and I would like them to win Ashes and World Cups. I am giving my opinion, and I have been given the chilly shoulder from the England crew ever since.

“Not all of them have given me the chilly shoulder. I do not need to say that they’ve all been the identical, as a result of they have not. A number of the gamers have been completely excellent: I’ve spoken to them on the street, on the floor, wherever. However a couple of people – coaches, gamers – they actually have not checked out me.”

Hartley would later add on social media: “To be clear, there are some members of the England crew who’ve been actually disappointing, however certainly not all. For some, friendships stay unchanged. For others, I have been shocked and shocked by their response.”

England have been wanting their finest all through a sequence that Australia have to date dominated, with their respective efforts within the discipline a transparent distinction between the 2 sides.

Sophie Ecclestone ‘refused’ to do a tv interview (PA Wire)

Beth Mooney was dropped early in her innings within the first T20 earlier than making what proved a match-winning 75, whereas there have been once more numerous misfields.

Lewis had issued a powerful denial of the declare that England have been unfit after the event exit final October, however Hartley believes she is completely entitled to specific her opinion.

“I’ve upset them, clearly,” she mentioned. “Jon Lewis has come out and mentioned there is not an issue with health in his squad, there is not an issue with health within the England setting. They clearly suppose I am fully mistaken in my view – which is ok, completely high quality. I am entitled to my opinions, they usually’re entitled to theirs.

“It is my job to say if I see one thing that must be higher, and I did, however the best way that I have been handled since I believe is completely unfair. However they may say that my feedback have been unfair, so if that is the best way our relationship goes to be shifting forwards, then so be it… If health is not an issue, then it is athleticism from a couple of, is not it?”

England play the second T20 on the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Thursday needing to win all remaining fixtures to safe a squared sequence.