Alex Hartley

Alexandra Hartley (born 6 September 1993) is an English former cricketer who played as a left-arm orthodox spin bowler.

Hartley was born on 6 September 1993 in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Hartley attended Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe, Ribble Valley.

Hartley made her county debut in 2008, at the age of 14, for Lancashire against Somerset, taking 1/26 from 10 overs in a 4 run victory.

The following season, she was Lancashire's joint-leading wicket-taker in the County Championship, with 9 wickets at an average of 24.33.

Her performances led to her being selected for the England Under-17s side that played in the Women's Development Tournament in South Africa in April 2010.

Hartley was a consistent performer for Lancashire over subsequent seasons: in the 2010 Women's County Championship, she took 19 wickets at an average of 12.47, including her List A best bowling figures of 6/23, taken against Scotland.

She was also Lancashire's leading wicket-taker in the 2010 Women's Twenty20 Cup and the side's joint-leading wicket-taker in the 2011 Women's County Championship.

Hartley was at the time part of both the Lancashire Academy and England Academy, but a loss of form around 2012 led to her being dropped from both academies, especially due to her batting and fielding.

She also appeared in the 2012 Super Fours for Rubies, and took 2/28 from 10 overs in a match against Sapphires.

In 2013, Hartley moved to Middlesex in order to play Division 1 Championship cricket (with Lancashire at the time playing in Division 2).

In her first season with her new side, she took 7 wickets in the County Championship at an average of 38.28.

The following season, she was the side's leading wicket-taker in the Championship, with 9 wickets at an average of 17.66.

In 2015, she achieved her Twenty20 best bowling figures, taking 4/14 against Berkshire.

Between 2016 and 2019, she appeared in 28 One Day Internationals and four Twenty20 Internationals for England, and was part of the side that won the 2017 World Cup.

She played domestic cricket for Lancashire, Middlesex, Surrey Stars, Lancashire Thunder, North West Thunder, Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire in England, as well as Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes in Australia.

In 2016, Hartley was named in the Surrey Stars squad for the inaugural Women's Cricket Super League, as one of the side's three designated England Women's Academy players.

She was the side's leading wicket-taker that season (and joint-fourth overall), with 8 wickets at an average of 13.75.

She was again part of the side for the following season, helping the Stars reach the semi-final and taking 9 wickets at an average of 19.22.

In 2017, Hartley returned to Lancashire, playing three matches for the side prior to the 2017 World Cup.

That season, the side would go on to win the double of both the County Championship and the Twenty20 Cup.

In 2018, reflecting her move to Lancashire in county cricket, she joined Lancashire Thunder for the 2018 Women's Cricket Super League.

She took 10 wickets for the side at an average of 28.20 that season, and 6 wickets at an average of 43.33 the following season.

In 2018/19, Hartley played in Australia, joining Tasmania for the WNCL and Hobart Hurricanes for the Big Bash.

She took 5 wickets for Tasmania at an average of 24.80, and 7 wickets for Hobart Hurricanes at an average of 44.57.

The following season, Hartley was the side's leading wicket-taker in the County Championship, with 10 wickets at an average of 17.90, and in 2019 she helped the side to a 2nd place finish in the Championship.

In 2020, after the reorganisation of domestic women's cricket in England, Hartley was named in the squad of new side North West Thunder for the 2020 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

She was subsequently named as captain of the side.

Hartley was her side's leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 11 wickets at an average of 15.45, including bowling a "magnificent" spell of ten overs against Lightning, taking 4 wickets for 8 runs including 5 maidens.

Following the season, it was announced that Hartley was one of the 41 female cricketers that had signed a full-time domestic contract.

In 2021, Hartley also captained Lancashire in the Twenty20 Cup, taking 5 wickets including 3/6 against North East Warriors to help her side to win the North Group of the competition.

She also remained as captain of North West Thunder for the 2021 season, and took 10 wickets for the side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at an average of 29.50.

She stood down as captain of North West Thunder ahead of the 2022 season.

She was the side's leading wicket-taker in the 2022 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, taking 10 wickets including 6/24 against South East Stars.

Hartley was also retained by the Manchester Originals for the inaugural 2021 edition of The Hundred, after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She was ever-present for the side that season, taking 8 wickets at an average of 22.37.

In April 2022, she was signed by the Welsh Fire for the 2022 season of The Hundred.

She took four wickets at an average of 32.00 in the six matches she played for the side that season.

In May 2023, Hartley announced that she was taking an immediate, indefinite break from playing cricket to focus on her mental health.

She returned in August 2023 for the start of The Hundred.