Latest news with #AlexHartley
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Sophie Ecclestone: I considered quitting after Alex Hartley spat
Sophie Ecclestone has admitted she considered quitting cricket in the aftermath of the public spat involving Alex Hartley and the Ashes whitewash. In January, before the first T20 of the Women's Ashes, Ecclestone refused to be interviewed by her former team-mate Hartley, who later said on air she had been 'hung out to dry' by players who would not speak to her. In the wake of England's dismal T20 World Cup exit in October, Hartley said some members of the side were not up to the required fitness standards, and stood by her claims as the side performed badly throughout the 16-0 whitewash Down Under. 'It was a weird time,' Ecclestone told Sky Sports, speaking about the incident for the first time before taking the field for the final ODI of the series against India at Durham. 'I felt like I was taking my warm-up more seriously than doing interviews for a game. I feel like that went down [the] wrong way and a few things were said. I was just concentrating on cricket at that moment but a lot of things were being said which wasn't ideal.' Ecclestone disputed the claim that she refused to do the interview, saying: 'The word 'refuse' was being thrown around which wasn't really true.' Clare Connor, managing director of England Women's cricket, called it an 'unfortunate incident that won't happen again' during her press conference the morning after the series. When new head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt then took over from sacked coach Jon Lewis and captain Heather Knight, Ecclestone took a break from cricket before the white-ball series against India to prioritise her mental health. 'During the West Indies series, I wasn't actually sure if I was going to come back and play cricket,' she said. 'It was a tough time. [I] feel like I have come out of the other side now, back playing cricket with the girls. I [have] got a smile on my face again and I feel like I wouldn't have done it without the girls. 'It wasn't very nice but we are all over that now. There were a lot of feelings involved and [it's time] to move on,' she explained. After the Ashes whitewash, Ecclestone went to the Women's Premier League where she suffered a torn meniscus, and was left out of the white-ball series against West Indies. Ecclestone returned to the national side for the India series, coming straight back into the starting XI and playing every match of the series, including taking three for 27 at Lord's.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ecclestone considered quitting after Ashes criticism
Spinner Sophie Ecclestone says she considered quitting cricket following the criticism of her during England's Ashes defeat last one of the leading bowlers in the world, refused to do an interview during the defeat in Australia which led to questions over England's attitude and ability to handle 26, took a brief break from cricket earlier this year and was left out of England's white-ball series against West Indies at the start of the summer to manage an injury."During the West Indies series, I wasn't actually sure if I was going to come back and play cricket," Ecclestone, who has returned for the ongoing series against India, told Sky Sports."It was a tough time." The issue surrounding Ecclestone, which threatened to overshadow the Ashes, arose after the first T20 in spinner turned down a TV interview with former England spinner Alex Hartley who was in Australia working for the BBC radio team and other television networks. Hartley questioned the fitness levels of some of England's players last England's Ashes fate was confirmed, managing director of England women's cricket Clare Connor described the episode as "an unfortunate incident that won't happen again".Ecclestone first spoke about the subject to the BBC in May, when she said she had "moved on" and "learned from" the speaking prior to England's third one-day international against India in Chester-le-Street, Ecclestone disputed the fact she "refused" to do the interview, instead suggesting she wanted to focus on her warm-up."I feel like that went down a wrong way and a few things were said," she said."I was just concentrating on cricket at that moment but a lot of things were being said which wasn't ideal for me."Ecclestone said the incident "took a lot out of me" and led to people suggesting she is arrogant."That's not me as a person," she said. "It was hard to take at that time."Ecclestone returned to the England fold for the first T20 against India in June and has taken nine wickets in seven matches, including 3-27 on Saturday in the second ODI win at Lord's."I've got a smile on my face again and I feel like I wouldn't have done it without the girls," Ecclestone said."People like [team-mates] Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, and my family and friends, I couldn't have done without them."I definitely wouldn't be here and picking up wickets at Lord's if it wasn't for them."
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sciver-Brunt leads England rebuild after openers fall cheaply
Update: Date: 13:38 BST Title: Post Content: Alex HartleyFormer England bowler on BBC Test Match Special That stayed slightly low, but Nat Sciver-Brunt loves to play off the back foot. It just misses the off stump as it nips back a little bit. The previous ball it misses the stumps, but then Sciver-Brunt always capitalises on half a chance. Update: Date: 7 overs Title: Eng 33-2 Content: A first four for Nat Sciver-Brunt, timing Amajot Kaur nicely through long-off. She came close to edging behind from the previous delivery, as Amanjot's delivery kept low and beat the England captain's bat. Update: Date: 6 overs Title: Eng 28-2 Content: Nat Sciver-Brunt starts her innings by facing five dot balls from Kranti Goud then gets off the mark with a single to mid-wicket. Goud, who is just 21, is playing in her third match for India today - she made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka in May, then played her first T20 international in the dead rubber at Edgbaston on Sunday. She failed to take a wicket in either match, so Jones and Beaumont become her first international victims. Update: Date: 13:29 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: Rufus BulloughCricViz analyst Both of these teams are absolute powerhouses with the bat in the powerplay. Amongst all sides globally since the start of 2024, India and England are the fastest scoring and highest averaging teams in the first phase of the innings: Update: Date: 13:29 BST Title: Post Content: Ebony Rainford-BrentFormer England batter on Test Match Special Emma Lamb is looking good today. She is just punching and trying not to over hit. She has come off some good form from the T20s. She is in touch and in good domestic form. Update: Date: 5 overs Title: Eng 27-2 Content: England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt comes to the middle with her side already in trouble. She doesn't get to face any of Amanjot Kaur's third over, as Emma Lamb pulls the game's first boundary through mid-wicket. Update: Date: 13:26 BST Title: Post Content: Phil LongBBC Test Match Special statistician Kranti Goud has only played once before in ODIs for India. Those two wickets today are her first wickets for India in an ODI. Update: Date: 13:24 BST Title: Post Content: Ebony Rainford-BrentFormer England batter on Test Match Special Kranti Goud is a very interesting bowler. The batters are expecting the wide ones to go away and then one will just jag back on the surface. This is very impressive from the youngster. You can see the real value in her. A real exciting talent. Update: Date: 4 overs Title: WICKET Content: Beaumont lbw b Goud 5 (Eng 20-2) No bat on that! A fair stride from Tammy Beaumont and the ball hits pad, with the ball tracking saying there'll be a strike on middle and off stumps. Sue Redfearn reverses her decision, up goes the finger. England openers, both scorers of twin hundreds against the West Indies, are back in the pavilion for single digit scores today. Update: Date: 4 overs Title: India review Content: Another wicket for Kranti Goud? She thinks she's trapped Tammy Beaumont in front of her wicket. Nothing from umpire Sue Redfearn - there's a possible inside edge there, but India are going to take a look... Update: Date: 3 overs Title: Eng 17-1 Content: A good stop from Jemimah Rodrigues, tipping Emma Lamb's drive away from the cover ropes as England's batters run three. Tammy Beaumont then knocks Amanjot Kaur into mid-wicket and takes two. Like Amy Jones, Beaumont made twin hundreds in the first two ODIs against the West Indies, scoring 107 and 106 before missing the third game in the series. Update: Date: 2 overs Title: Eng 12-1 Content: Emma Lamb walks out for England and immediately takes two into the covers. Goud sends down another wide but it isn't followed by a wicket on this occasion. Update: Date: 13:13 BST Title: Post Content: Ebony Rainford-BrentFormer England batter on Test Match Special I have a feeling that's why Kranti Goud is in this team! She has struggled to hold the line, but this time it was a scrambled seam - it nipped and came back. That was brilliant. If the gameplan is to get Kranti Goud ready for the 50-over World Cup or beyond, then they will let her have four or maybe five overs. She is finding her radar and, more importantly, finding her confidence. Update: Date: 1.2 overs Title: WICKET Content: Jones b Goud 1 (Eng 8-1) Wide, wide, wide... wicket? Maybe Kranti Goud can claim that was the strategy! The India seamer sends down three consecutive out-swingers that are called wide down the off side, then follows up with one that nips in a bit and bowls Amy Jones through the gate. Jones, who made scores of 122 and 129 in the ODI series against the West Indies, departs for one today. Update: Date: 1 over Title: Eng 5-0 Content: Tammy Beaumont tips Amanjot Kaur's first delivery round the corner and runs three, with the ball chased down at fine leg. Amanjot follows with a wide, but then sends down four dot balls to Amy Jones before the England wicketkeeper turns the final ball of the over through backward square to retain the strike. Update: Date: 13:01 BST Title: Post Content: England's openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones have walked out to the middle. Amanjot Kaur has the ball in hand for India. We're ready to go in sunny Southampton. Update: Date: 12:59 BST Title: Post Content: Alex HartleyFormer England bowler on BBC Test Match Special A team in transition for us in the media is almost like we've got some young faces and we've got some new people, but that's not the case. England are the second most capped team to have played a T20 international in the last game they have played. Yes, they are more or less the same team, but the way they want to play they are transitioning. Update: Date: 12:57 BST Title: Line-ups Content: England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud Update: Date: 12:50 BST Title: Post Content: Alex HartleyFormer England bowler on BBC Test Match Special On England's victory over India at Edgbaston... It probably got a bit closer than England would have liked. The loss of Amy Jones gave India a sniff of winning that game. It went right down to the wire. Update: Date: 12:44 BST Title: 'It's a very good opportunity' Content: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: "I think we are ready to go. "The T20 series was very good for us, we want to carry that on. "It's a very good opportunity for us to get used to the conditions for the World Cup next year. We're playing also playing one of the best teams in the world in England."
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Five cats discovered living in Premier League stadium find new home… as owner names them after club's stars
NOTTINGHAM FOREST's famous feline residents are on the verge of finding a new home. An adorable litter of kittens and their mother were recently found living inside the City Ground. 3 A club employee found five cats living in a storeroom near the home team's dressing room following England 's defeat to Senegal last month. The mother and her four babies were looked after by club staff until Cats Protection took them in. Cats Protection Employee Alex Hartley told The BBC: "We've not had [a call] from a football stadium before. "Everything else really - up chimneys, in woodsheds, everything like that - but never one from a football stadium, so we were all a little bit surprised by it." He added: "There were over 25,000 people in the stadium, and apparently mum was just milling about under the stands while people were there, so [the club] contacted us. "They all seemed to be in good health - mum had obviously been feeding them really well. "Because the kittens were a decent weight, [and] mum was herself a little bit skinny, but that happens regularly. "Clearly, the staff had been helping feed them and keep them in good nick." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 The cats made quite the impact at the City Ground, so much so that club staff named them after multiple players. The mum was named Morgan after Forest and England ace Morgan Gibbs-White, while the females of the litter were dubbed Danilo, Murillo, and Ibrahim Sangare. The sole male of the group has been named after Forest cult hero New Zealand international Chris Wood. The cats will be made available for adoption after more medicals and being micro-chipped and neutering. Hartley said: "Mum's really friendly - the kittens are still a little bit shy, but we're working with them. "Obviously, we get attached to all mums and kittens, but they're definitely ones we're going to remember." But they'll always have a home at the City Ground, with the club insisting their former residents will "always be welcome".
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Mandhana makes sublime century as India target 200 in first T20
Update: Date: 15.3 overs Title: Ind 166-1 Content: Smriti Mandhana rocks on her heels and hooks a Lauren Bell India have feasted on the low-hanging fruit from England's attack. Mandhana moves to 96. Update: Date: 15:46 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: Kieran ParmleyCricviz analyst This is Smriti Mandhana's highest score in T20Is, going past her previous best of 87 against Ireland during the 2023 T20 World Cup. Update: Date: 15:46 BST Title: Post Content: Alex HartleyFormer England bowler on BBC Test Match Special England lose games when they are under pressure, it has been a problem for a number of years. It is clearly a great pitch to bat on but one wicket could change it. Update: Date: 15 overs Title: Ind 160-1 Content: Smriti Mandhana is unbeaten on 90 now off 47 balls. Harleen Deoli is 43 not out off 22 balls. Update: Date: 15:45 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: Kieran ParmleyCricviz analyst Indian batters sweeping and coming down the pitch in this innings: Update: Date: 14.3 overs Title: Ind 157-1 Content: India have not taken their foot off the pedal here and an absolute masterclass from Smriti Mandhana. The India stand-in skipper heaves Lauren Filer for four through square leg and then thrashes the England quick through the covers for back-to-back boundaries. England look on their last legs, and we have just over five overs left here. Update: Date: 15:42 BST Title: Post Content: WinViz is only going in one direction at the moment. A reminder that England started the game at 79%. Update: Date: 15:42 BST Title: Post Content: Katherine Sciver-BruntEx-England bowler on BBC Sport commentary Sophie Ecclestone has a huge array of different balls going on here. The plan isn't that clear to me. It's making me wonder where her head is at, at the moment. I would say that's her done for the day. Update: Date: 14 overs Title: Ind 148-1 Content: A bit more like it from Sophie Ecclestone from her first three deliveries as she restricts India's batters to three singles. Harleen Deol sweeps her fourth delivery for four, then Smriti Mandhana finishes the cover with a shot inside out through cover. 12 runs off Ecclestone's over. Update: Date: 13 overs Title: Ind 136-1 Content: Sophie Ecclestone back for her second over. She'll hope it isn't as expensive as the 19 off her first. Update: Date: 15:38 BST Title: Post Content: Katherine Sciver-BruntEx-England bowler on BBC Sport commentary For England, the spinners have got to bowl at the stumps. The seamers are struggling and they need to introduce their slower balls and bouncers in a good fashion. At the moment, this is continuing to help India feel invincible. Update: Date: 13 overs Title: Ind 136-1 Content: Danni Wyatt-Hodge partially amends for that earlier drop, to a degree. Wyatt-Hodge makes up good ground on the boundary and slaps the ball back to prevent a four after Smriti Mandhana whipped it over square leg. A couple of balls later and Harleen Deol thumps Arlott for four through the covers. Update: Date: 12 overs Title: Ind 125-1 Content: This video can not be played Mandhana 'walloped' the ball for six Smriti Mandhana is purring at the moment. Update: Date: 15:34 BST Title: Post Content: Melissa StoryTest Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra Danni Wyatt-Hodge didn't even have to move. A big, big moment for England. Update: Date: 11.4 overs Title: Deol dropped on 26 Content: Danni Wyatt-Hodge drops a pretty routine chance in the deep. Harleen Deol skies one down the ground off Alice Capsey, hitting with the spin, and the ball comes down with snow on it but Wyatt-Hodge spills it. England have not excelled in the field today. This video can not be played Wyatt-Hodge 'had too much time to think about the ball' and dropped it Update: Date: 11.3 overs Title: Ind 120-1 Content: Shot of the day from Smriti Mandhana, who goes inside out to Alice Capsey and chips the part-time spinner down the ground for four. Superb stuff. Update: Date: 11.2 overs Title: Ind 115-1 Content: This video can not be played Arlott dismisses Verma for 20 Just the one wicket to fall. so far. Update: Date: 11.1 overs Title: Ind 114-1 Content: The TV cameras trail on Sophie Ecclestone who is sporting shades and a bit of a glum expression. Alice Capsey is thrown the ball by Nat Sciver-Brunt. Harleen Deol skips down the pitch and wallops the England spinner for four. Update: Date: 15:27 BST Title: How's stat?! Content: Kieran ParmleyCricviz analyst India have scored 98 or more in the first 10 overs seven times previously in T20Is, all resulting in wins. Update: Date: 10.4 overs Title: Ind 108-1 Content: England have been chasing leather for most of the afternoon so it's not surprising they are changing their plans a little. However, Lauren Filer bowls two consecutive wides as she fails to execute yorkers.
