Requested if he thought criticism of a few of his gamers’ health was honest, head coach Jon Lewis advised BBC Sport: “No, probably not. I do not truly, no.
“We practice actually exhausting. Our gamers are very match. I am shocked that individuals would say that, truly.
“Health was completely nothing to do with us dropping that sport. Our gamers work extremely exhausting round their bodily health throughout the board.”
Hartley used the instance of Australia, the premier crew on the earth, persevering with to miss leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington, who has not performed worldwide cricket since 2022.
“Australia have gotten 15 or 16 athletes, real athletes,” stated Hartley. “They’ve the perfect leg-spinner on the earth in Amanda-Jade Wellington, that doesn’t even get of their squads any extra as a result of she’s not match sufficient.”
Knight took cost in 2016 and led England to their final main trophy in 2017. Hartley pointed to the chaos within the subject in Knight’s absence as a motive for the 33-year-old to remain on. She additionally supported former England males’s bowler Lewis.
“When you haven’t received a World Cup for therefore lengthy, issues want to vary,” stated Hartley. “Final night time confirmed how a lot England want Heather Knight on the sector, as a result of she’s a peaceful character. She wasn’t there and everybody was trying round all flustered.
“I don’t know the place change comes from. I feel Jon Lewis is the fitting man for the job. He has modified ladies’s cricket, getting the ladies to grasp they will have a greater work-life stability.
“Whether or not or not they’ve doubtlessly gone too far the opposite method, I’m undecided.”
