XPost: uk.sport.cricket
Ex-players call out 'the arrogance of English cricket' after poor results
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-28/cricket-england-arrogance-mark-butcher-alex-hartley/104994722
Former England internationals Alex Hartley and Mark Butcher have called
out current England players for their "arrogance".
The comments come after England's men's side was knocked out of the ICC Champions Trophy by losing to Afghanistan.
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England's cricket teams have been accused of "arrogance" after
underwhelming performances by both the men and women in recent tournaments.
England's men's team was bundled out of the ICC Champions Trophy this
week after a shock loss to Afghanistan followed a loss to Australia in
its tournament opener in Pakistan.
The results mean England has lost 12 of its past 16 one-day
international matches since the completion of the 2023 50-over World Cup
in India.
Similarly, the English women's team was soundly beaten by Australia in
the Ashes this summer, losing all four matches in various formats.
Former England spinner Alex Hartley took aim at the men's team after the
loss to Afghanistan.
"The arrogance of the England teams irritates me," she said on the BBC's
Test Match Special podcast.
"They say 'we don't care about the result and we want to entertain', but
people don't want to come and watch you if you lose all the time."
Hartley's point was echoed by former England batter Mark Butcher, who
played in 71 Tests between 1997 and 2004.
"I completely and utterly understand why everybody loves seeing England
lose," he said on the Wisden Cricket Patreon England Daily podcast.
"The arrogance of English cricket to decide that after you strive for
all that time to win a 50-over World Cup, and then within the next
breath, you decide that it's not important enough for your players to play?
"The arrogance in that and the comeuppance that has come around …
There's no wonder the crowd there are all supporting Afghanistan,
whether they're from Afghanistan or Pakistan, or wherever they are."
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