Good evening and welcome to the second Twenty20 of the womenโs Ashes from the capital.
As you know, Australia have already retained the Ashes, but tonight in Canberra, they are looking to take one step closer to a clean sweep against their biggest rivals and rubbing further salt into wounds.
After an assured 57-run victory at the SCG in the first T20 contest, it is difficult to see where Englandโs next win can come in this series.
Apart from Sophia Dunkleyโs 59 runs that gave England some hope a thin glimmer of hope, the lack of cohesion in the field or ability to adapt to an Australian team without Alyssa Healy or Ash Gardner was painful.
Beth Mooneyโs 75 runs and Alana King and Georgia Warehamโs five wickets defeated England to ensure Australia kept the Ashes at home, but there were further issues for the visitors to contend with off the field.
Former England spinner and pundit Alex Hartley claimed that Sophie Ecclestone refused a television interview in Australia after the game at the SCG and said that sheโd been โhung out to dryโ by the team when talking on BBCโs Test Match Special.
Hartley was previously critical of Englandโs fitness levels after their T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to the West Indies last year.
Speaking before the second T20, England wicketkeeper Amy Jones played down any rift between Hartley and the team.
โHartleyโs a great personality and we have a lot of love for her in the group, so I definitely donโt think thatโs the case,โ Jones said.
โI think we all respect that commentators have their opinions and itโs Alexโs job to say how she feels, and I think we all respect that.โ
Hartley has also had her final say on the matter below.
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