Cricketer Alex Hartley's criticism of her team mates should be met with godly wisdom, not offence

The Bible warns us that words have power and also encourages wise instruction – and women’s cricket is offering much to ponder on these points. Last autumn, while commentating on the Women’s T20 World Cup, former player Alex Hartley questioned the fitness levels of the current England women’s team after disappointing losses.  It has since come to light, during the team’s January tour of Australia, that she has been ostracised by the players for her comments, even refused media interviews. Hartley, it appears, had caused offence. But was she wrong to voice her view  - or do we as women need to become better at moving beyond our hurt feelings, lest we miss a Godly word in season?

It is Hartley’s words and not her bowling that have created a spin.

Alexandra (Alex) Hartley made her name in women’s cricket, playing left arm spin for Lancashire and Middlesex. She was capped 32 times by England, formed part of the 2017 World Cup winning team, where she was the second-highest wicket-taker, and inhabits an era when women’s cricket emerged from the shadows into the mainstream.  Now retired and established as a cricket commentator, it is Hartley’s words and not her bowling that have created a spin.

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But I applaud Alex Hartley. This controversy may pose sporting questions around professionalism and the new responsibilities attached to the higher pay and profile that women’s cricket now enjoys, but it also carries biblical lessons about handling instruction and navigating our feelings. Lessons that Christian women would do well to absorb – myself included.

Women do feelings. In fact our feelings, or rather our hurt feelings, frequent almost every all-female catch-up. While this is healthy and supportive, it can also prove corrosive, particularly when we elevate our feelings or transfer them onto others, hearing in their words what has not been said, or meant.  Concepts of fitness can link to sensitivities around work ethic or body image, which are delicate, but we also live in a culture that has made feelings sacrosanct and causing offence, criminal. That trend alone should concern us more than our injured emotions and yet, we continue to allow hurt feelings to bar wise and beneficial counsel.

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Motives matter of course. While the motives behind our words can be misread or opaque to others, they are always clear to God  - and God cares very much about our heart motives (Proverbs 16:2). They are what render our words right or wrong, what transforms them from reckless to wise, from abuse to advice. Or vice versa.  Alex Hartley expressed a professional opinion within a professional context. Paid to utilise her cricketing knowledge to analyse the game, her motivation, as she has stated, was the success of the team.  When she challenged them, she was willing them on to improve, compete well and win. This was not unsolicited internet trolling. This was sound advice.

When others react badly to our words, as happened with Hartley, it can be easy to assume that we erred – but reactions do not determine whether or not we should have spoken

When others react badly to our words, as happened with Hartley, it can be easy to assume that we erred – but reactions do not determine whether or not we should have spoken. The Bible gives fair warning about the risks of correcting others, but also of the great value of correction to the listening heart (see Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 23:9 and 12).  Alex Hartley’s comments were intended to enhance the team and their capacity to compete at the highest level, something they have failed to do in Australia, categorically defeated in the coveted Women’s Ashes series, losing by 16 points to zero.

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Certainly, we need to pay attention to our words and weigh their impact. They hold the power of life and death, as the Bible teaches (Proverbs 18:21), but that does not mean that we withhold corrective words  -  or are unwilling to receive them.  Hartley spoke because she was executing her job well as a cricket analyst – and as a supporter.  If her words had been received in the spirit they were given, their recipients may have benefited in their jobs too.

It feels like women’s cricket has bowled up a sobering tale for us all.  As Christian women, maybe we can learn to receive instruction more graciously, as Proverbs advises, for when we do, God can offer us priceless words in season.