The talented English left-arm spinner Alex Hartley has declared that she wants to leave the world of professional cricket. After the current women’s Hundred tournament is over, she will permanently retire. On August 23rd, this significant news was confirmed. She is an important part of the Welsh Fire women’s squad, which has a total of 11 points and is currently ranked second in the standings.
Alex made the decision to take a break from cricket at the beginning of 2023, claiming issues with her mental health while playing for the Thunder Squad in regional tournaments. It was also made clear that she no longer had as much confidence in her bowling abilities and excitement for the game. Despite these obstacles, the player who had won the 2017 ODI World Cup returned for The Hundred competition. She participated in this event for the Tammy Beaumont-led team, taking two wickets in three games while maintaining a 35.00 average.
“I’m hanging my boots up – I am officially retiring from cricket. I’ve absolutely loved it at Welsh Fire, every single second of it. The staff have been really supportive, they’ve been great over the last month. And I don’t want to play 50-over cricket!” Hartley said on No Balls, the BBC podcast she co-hosts with Kate Cross.
“I’m really, really excited. I’m going to really miss it. I’m going to be really sad – but it’s right, isn’t it? I’ve been thinking about it for ages,” the 29-year-old Alex Hartley added.
Hartley stepped into the international scene back in June 2016 and has since participated in 28 ODIs and four T20Is. Her performance led to 39 wickets in the ODIs and three in T20Is. The pinnacle of her international journey was the World Cup triumph in 2017. During this global event, she showcased her skills in nine matches and emerged as England’s second-highest wicket-taker with an impressive count of 10 wickets.
Notably, her contributions included a pivotal moment where she dismissed India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the final match held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Hartley’s journey encountered a turn due to Sophie Ecclestone’s ascent as England’s prominent left-arm spinner, a transition that resulted in her losing her spot. Despite this setback, her determination pushed her to remain active, continuing to represent Thunder in domestic cricket.
She also participated in the inaugural season of The Hundred with Manchester Originals before becoming a part of Welsh Fire in 2022. This illustrated her unwavering dedication to the sport and her ability to adapt to new challenges.
Good job