Piers Morgan has weighed in on the sexism row engulfing the England women’s cricket team, after the ECB announced Brendon McCullum’s sacking during their first ever Test match at Lord’s.
The cricketing board revealed yesterday afternoon that McCullum would be leaving his post as the men’s Test match coach midway through Day Three of the women’s clash with India.
It was a move which sparked controversy, with pundits accusing the ECB of ‘trying to overshadow everything the women do’ by making such an announcement before their historic match had even come to an end.
Sports reporter Elizabeth Ammon wrote on X: ‘Could the ECB have not waited 24 hours to announce that (news of McCullum’s sacking)? They and their man have literally done their very, very best this summer to overshadow everything the women tried to do. I’m actually really cross about this and the whole fing summer. Knives being sharpened’.
And now-retired England women’s cricketer Alex Hartley blasted the ECB’s decision live on the BBC’s Test Match Special.
She told former England fast bowler Steven Finn: ‘It just doesn’t make sense, wait until 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.
England women’s cricketer Issy Wong was seen solving a Rubik’s Cube and celebrity wildly with her side on the verge of being thrashed by India at Lord’s
It came amid a sexism row over the ECB’s decision to sack Brendon McCullum midway through the women’s first ever Test match at the Home of Cricket. Alex Hartley (pictured) blasted the decision on Test Match Special
‘There’s an ODI series starting Tuesday and I completely understand that they want to get the news out before then but, I’m sorry, there’s something more important for me and women’s cricket.’
The news came with the women’s team staring down the barrel at a huge defeat to India.
Having posted just 170 in their first innings, England began their second – and the final of the match – needing a whopping 457 to win.
Their run chase, however, got off to the worst possible start when Tammi Beaumont was dismissed for a first-ball duck before a collapse ensued. Eventually, Charlotte Edwards’ side were all out for 187 – meaning they lost by some 270 runs.
Footage of fast bowler Issy Wong solving a Rubik’s Cube had earlier gone viral as her team-mates struggled out in the middle.
Wong was filmed celebrating wildly after completing the puzzle, before attempting to throw one of her match shirts across a balcony to a fan. The shirt, however, was swept away by the wind and fell onto the seats in front of the famous old pavilion at Lord’s. Eventually, head coach Edwards was forced to head down and retrieve it.
The clip sparked something of a furious response on social media, with fans questioning why the national team were goofing around when they looked certain to lose.
‘We’re about to lose by 300 runs,’ one wrote.
Another penned: ‘Imagine the men were getting thrashed in a test match and you had Ollie Robinson doing a rubix cube on the balcony.’
Before Piers Morgan, replying to the video of Wong, waded in: ‘Wrong stuff. (Fixed it for you). If a male player did this while England were being thrashed, all hell would break loose.’
The ECB was blasted over its decision to announce McCullum’s sacking last night
Fans also took to social media to criticise Issy Wong for solving the Rubik’s Cube
Broadcaster Piers Morgan later waded into the debate by posting on X
The 61-year-old was critical of Wong for goofing around while her side were ‘being thrashed’
McCullum was dismissed after overseeing a disappointing run of form for the Test side
The broadcaster also responded to the clip of Hartley giving her opinion on the matter, describing her view as a ‘load of tosh’.
‘Respectfully, what a load of tosh,’ the 61-year-old wrote on X. ‘The England women’s team were so interested in their own Test match they were playing Rubik’s cubes and throwing shirts over fans.’
McCullum was sacked just weeks after former captain Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket during the men’s third Test against New Zealand.
The 2-1 series defeat – England’s first home loss in a series of three or more matches in 13 years – proved to be the final straw for the Kiwi after England’s dismal defeat in the Ashes a few months ago.
Andy Flower, now 58, is the favourite to replace McCullum ahead of England’s next home Test series against Pakistan beginning in August.
‘I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together,’ said McCullum, whose 49 Tests in charge produced 27 wins, 20 defeats and two draws.
‘There’ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that’s all part of taking on a challenge like this. It’s been a privilege and an honour, and I’m grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.
‘Of course I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward.
‘I wish the Test team nothing but success. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing-room and they’re a special bunch of lads. I’ll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they’ll continue to make people proud.’
