“It’s been brutal and hugely disappointing and frustrating. Can I believe it? No, I can’t. The scoreline is very difficult to swallow and to make sense of.“
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Those are the words of Clare Connor, managing director of England women’s cricket and the deputy CEO of the English Cricket Board (ECB).
In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Test Match Special after England’s 16-0 drubbing in the Women’s Ashes, Connor:
Denied there was an attitude of “cosiness” in captain Heather Knight and coach Jon Lewis’ side;
Admitted the team was “wrestling with performance under pressure”;
Said England were still playing “catch-up” with Australia’s professionalism in the women’s game, despite ECB investment;
Pledged an “honest review” which will be drawn up over the next few weeks but declined to be drawn on changes to leadership;
Described Sophie Ecclestone’s refusal to give an interview to Alex Hartley, said to be over previous criticism of their fitness, as “an unfortunate incident that won’t happen again”.
‘I don’t recognise a cosiness’
After a disappointing tour where England were outplayed but also let winning opportunities slide through lack of discipline, Connor said the scoreline was a “tough pill to swallow”.
But while she acknowledged that the team’s reputation had taken a hit as a result, Connor said she did not feel the accusations of a lack of professionalism were accurate.
“The perception and reputation of England women’s cricket is something that we want people to see positively and for them to be role models,” said Connor, who captained England between 2000-2006.
“But this is the scrutiny that comes when you lose and when you lose heavily.
“This group of players care deeply about playing for England and they will be hurting, they are hurting hugely from what’s happened over this last month. There isn’t a lack of professionalism and I don’t recognise a cosiness.
“But all of that, I understand, is going to be brought into these conversations when a team has underperformed to the extent that we have.”
Connor said England had been “outplayed in every facet of the game”.
“Australia have shown that they’re constantly setting new standards in international women’s cricket,” she said
“It’s raw, isn’t it? I think in the early reflections one of the biggest differences right now in the two groups of players is the ability to, when there’s a chink of an opportunity, ruthlessly take that and not step back.”