Men v women in online spat

Cricket

England’s men’s and women’s national cricket stars have become embroiled in an ugly online Twitter spat.

Following England’s crushing two-day defeat to India in the Ahmedabad test, Alexandra Hartley took to Twitter to advertise that the women’s side were kitting up for their 2nd ODI match against New Zealand in Dunedin yesterday.

But it’s the manner in which she did it that has caused a stir with her male compatriots, tweeting: ‘‘Nice of the England boys to get this test match finished just before England Women play tonight’’ with the clapping emojis before adding ‘‘Catch them on @btsportcricket.’’

It prompted a quick retort from Rory Burns who hit back: ‘‘Very disappointing attitude considering all the boys do to support the Women’s game.’’

James Anderson and Ben Stokes had also liked Burns’ tweet before it was deleted.

Ben Duckett was also unimpressed with Hartley’s message and is yet to take down his post, branding it an ‘‘average tweet’’ while adding ‘‘don’t think any of the men’s team would be ‘clapping emojis’ if the women lost.’’

Hartley is not on the current England women’s tour to New Zealand against the White Ferns where England yesterday wrapped up the three-match series with a game to spare.

England’s men were dismissed for 112 in their first innings and 81 in their second, India scored 145 in their first innings making the target for their second dig without raising a sweat. India lead that four-test series 2-1 with a game to play.