Hartley, who has worked extensively as a broadcaster and pundit since retiring from professional cricket, said a handful of players were “letting the team down” with their fitness levels following their shock loss to the West Indies in Dubai. Heather Knight and John Lewis, England’s captain and coach, both denied it contributed to their group-stage exit.
“The reason I said they’re 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 the Ashes and the World Cup. I’m giving my opinion, and I’ve been out of the England team ever since. The shoulder is given.
“They didn’t all give me the cold shoulder. I don’t want to say they were all the same, because they weren’t. Some players are absolutely outstanding: I talked to them. On the street, on the field, wherever but some people – coaches, players – they are literal. He didn’t even look at me.”
“I definitely pissed them off,” he said. “John Lewis has come out and said there is no problem with fitness in his squad, there is no problem with fitness in the England environment. They obviously think I am completely wrong in my opinion – which is fine, absolutely fine, I am entitled to my opinion, and they are theirs. Have an opinion.
“It’s my job to say if I see something that needs to be improved, and I did, but I think the way I’ve been treated is completely unfair. But they’ll say my comments were unfair, so if that’s our relationship As it goes, so be it… if fitness isn’t an issue, then athleticism is for some, right?”
An England team spokesman declined to comment when contacted by ESPNcricinfo.
Leave a Reply