Former England Cricketer Alex Hartley has criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board‘s decision to announce Brendon McCullum’s departure as England Men’s Test Head Coach during the historic India Women-England Women Test at Lord’s, arguing that the timing overshadowed one of the biggest moments in the women’s game.
The announcement was made on Sunday during Day Three of the four-day Test, the first women’s international red-ball match to be staged at Lord’s. Hartley believes the ECB should have delayed the announcement until after the match to ensure the spotlight remained on the landmark occasion for women’s cricket.
World Cup winner Alex Hartley criticises the ECB's decision to announce the sacking of Brendon McCullum as England men's Test coach during the historic first women's Test at Lord's. pic.twitter.com/GqeVdCqhmT
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 12, 2026
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, Hartley said: “It just doesn’t make sense. Wait till Tuesday. This game is done in the fact that England aren’t going to win this Test match, but there’s a Test match to save. It’s historic. It’s a historic moment within itself. There’s an ODI series starting Tuesday (against India’s men’s team). I completely understand that they want to get the news out before then, but I’m sorry, [this Test is] something more important for me and women’s cricket. If you say you respect the game and you want the game to improve, then don’t just pay it lip service; actually prove it and say, ‘We’ll hang on to this news until Tuesday morning or 7 pm on Monday.’”
Hartley questions the ECB’s priorities
Hartley’s criticism centred on what she viewed as a missed opportunity to give the historic Test the undivided attention it deserved. Although the England Men’s ODI series against India has since begun, with India winning the opening match by six wickets after chasing England’s 258, Hartley argued the governing body could have waited until the conclusion of the Lord’s Test before releasing the news.
Historic Test ends in emphatic India victory
The Lord’s Test attracted significant interest as the first women’s international red-ball fixture to be staged at the venue, with India completing a comprehensive 270-run victory after bowling England out for 186 on the fourth morning.
The ECB has confirmed that McCullum will continue as England Men’s white-ball Head Coach, while the search for a new England Men’s Test Head Coach is already underway. Andy Flower and Rahul Dravid have emerged among the leading names linked with the role.
