Alex Hartley claims England star 'refused interview' after Ashes defeat over fitness comments
Alex Hartley claims England star 'refused interview' after Ashes defeat over fitness comments
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The former England spinner had criticised the fitness of Heather Knight’s side after their T20 World Cup exit last year. Former England spinner Alex Hartley has claimed that Sophie Ecclestone refused a television interview after Heather Knight’s side suffered a heavy Ashes defeat to Australia.
![[Sophie Ecclestone ‘refused’ to do a television interview]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/10/02/09/fc7e56e07ff64b2199dd7f71844b02f2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzI3ODg2OTgw-2.76820462.jpg)
The hosts retained the Women’s Ashes with victory in the first T20 in Sydney extending their lead in the multi-format series to an unassailable 8-0. It extends England’s hunt for success in the contest to more than a decade, piling more pressure on coach Jon Lewis and captain Knight after a series of recent disappointments.
Hartley, who is working in Australia for TNT Sports and the BBC, was heavily critical of the set-up after their T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to the West Indies last year, suggesting that a handful of players were "letting the team down" with below par standards of fitness.
And the pundit, who was part of the side that won the 2017 World Cup under Knight’s captaincy, believes she is now being punished for those comments by sections of the squad, with left-arm spinner Ecclestone refusing to speak after defeat the SCG. “Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today," Hartley told the BBC's Test Match Special 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.
