England spin all-rounder Sophie Ecclestone has spoken candidly about emerging from one of the most difficult periods of her life, saying she can 'play cricket with a smile' again as she prepares for the Women's T20 World Cup on home soil. The 27-year-old, who debuted for England at 17 and became the country's leading wicket-taker in Women's T20 internationals in 2024, says a combination of professional mental health support and squad camaraderie has restored her love for the game.

A Tough Phase Beyond Cricket

Ecclestone described a period following England's difficult Ashes campaign in Australia as a genuine low point — one that extended well beyond the cricket field. 'It was such a tough period — there was a time where I didn't leave my house for five days. It wasn't just cricket, it was life generally, and when that isn't great, cricket takes a turn for the worse. I wasn't enjoying the environment and I just wanted to run away. But I'm back. Things are so different now — I can play cricket with a smile on my face again,' she told BBC Sport.

She acknowledged that seeking help from a psychiatrist was something she never anticipated but now considers essential. The admission is notable given how rarely elite cricketers speak openly about mental health intervention at that level.

Support from Coaches and Squad

Ecclestone credited both former England head coach Jon Lewis and current head coach Charlotte Edwards for their roles in helping her navigate the professional turbulence. Under Edwards, fitness was elevated to a 'non-negotiable' standard — a shift Ecclestone has embraced fully. She pushed back firmly against public criticism of the squad's conditioning, saying outsiders do not see the work done in training. 'As a group, we are ridiculously fit now. If anyone did want to judge that I would love for them to come into our environment for the day because it's crazy how hard people work,' she said.

As a senior player, Ecclestone also spoke about her responsibility to younger squad members entering the high-scrutiny world of international cricket, stressing that players need to know 'it's OK' to have bad days and that support is available.

The Hartley Controversy

Ecclestone's Ashes tour was also marked by a widely reported incident in which she declined an interview request from former England teammate Alex Hartley, who was working as a broadcaster for Australia's Channel 7. The episode followed Hartley's public remarks questioning England's fitness standards after their exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. Ecclestone indicated she found such external criticism 'quite annoying', arguing it failed to account for the effort players invest away from the public eye.

World Cup Ambitions at Home

England have not lifted a global trophy since their 2017 World Cup triumph, with recent ICC campaigns — including a semi-final exit at last year's ODI World Cup against South Africa — falling short of expectations. Ecclestone, however, is looking forward rather than back. 'We've got to move on now. We've all put that behind us, and there's no better way to put things right than a World Cup at home,' she said, adding that lifting a trophy with her current squad would feel like 'a miracle ending'.

England open their Women's T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka. Ecclestone enters the tournament as one of the world's premier spin bowlers and, by her own account, in the best headspace of her recent career.