The incident in question took place before the first T20I of the series, where Hartley was reportedly refused an interview by fellow left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone
Former England women’s left-arm spinner Alex Hartley has shared that she has been “hit pretty hard” by the reactions she received after revealing that some of her former England teammates gave her the “cold shoulder” during the ongoing Women’s Ashes. Hartley, who represented England in 26 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and four T20Is, now works as an expert for radio and TV networks in Australia. However, her transition to commentary has come with its own challenges.
The incident in question took place before the first T20I of the series, where Hartley was reportedly refused an interview by fellow left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone. This occurred shortly after Hartley publicly questioned England’s fitness levels following their surprise exit in the group stages of the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. The fallout from these comments left Hartley feeling emotionally impacted. “It’s been a pretty tough few days for me,” Hartley admitted. “I wasn’t expecting it to be all over the newspapers and UK press. It’s hit me personally, pretty hard.” Despite the media storm, Hartley explained that it wasn’t the publicity that upset her most, but the personal toll of being snubbed by her former teammates. “Ultimately, I was frustrated and upset with how things unfolded before that first T20,” she said.
England wicketkeeper Amy Jones has denied that Hartley was given the cold shoulder, stating that the team “loves having her around.” But for Hartley, the situation highlighted the difficulties of transitioning from being a player to an external commentator, a process she admitted was more difficult than she initially expected.
Moving from the dressing room to the commentary box is a difficult transition that many players face, and former England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent, who herself made the switch to broadcasting, shared her perspective on the matter. “I know about moving out of the dressing room,” Rainford-Brent said. “You don’t want to be rubbishing your mates because, at the end of the day, you might be calling them for a drink, and they don’t want that.” However, Rainford-Brent supported Hartley’s candid comments about the England team’s fitness levels, saying, “What I like about Hartley is that she’s saying the truth. She feels the players haven’t been fit, and she’s put it out there.” Rainford-Brent believes Hartley is simply doing her job as a broadcaster, offering honest analysis, even when it might cause discomfort within the team.
Yet, Rainford-Brent also expressed disappointment that Ecclestone did not go ahead with the interview, suggesting that the refusal was unprofessional. “As a player, there are jobs on the field and jobs off the field,” Rainford-Brent pointed out. “I’m disappointed she didn’t follow through.” Rainford-Brent also touched on the increasing visibility of women’s sport and the need for players and broadcasters to adapt. “Women’s sport is on the rise. We’ve all got to adapt quicker,” she said, noting that such incidents are receiving attention beyond just cricket fans.
Former Middlesex player Isabelle Westbury also weighed in on the issue, acknowledging the pressures on women’s cricketers today. She explained that the increasing demands of the sport, combined with the team’s struggles in Australia, may have made the situation even more complicated. “England’s struggles in Australia, combined with the pressure of the game, have made the issue worse,” Westbury said. “But I’ve got no problem with Hartley’s comments whatsoever. You can understand why some remarks have come from the England camp.” Westbury emphasized that today’s players have to juggle their roles as athletes and role models, which includes being prepared to speak to the media.
Hartley, for her part, remains committed to her role as a broadcaster and refuses to back down from speaking her truth. “I’m doing what I should be doing as a broadcaster,” she stated, maintaining that it is important to provide candid commentary, even if it ruffles a few feathers. Though the cold shoulder incident was difficult, Hartley remains focused on her work and her new career in Australia, embracing the challenges that come with this next phase of her life in the world of cricket.
