Archer backed by teams after abuse

WELLINGTON: England players will rally around an “emotional” Jofra Archer after the paceman was racially abused by a spectator in New Zealand, director of cricket Ashley Giles said, as local officials scoured CCTV footage to identify the culprit. “It’s a shame that sort of thing is still in society,” Giles said after Archer was subjected to racist comments after being dismissed late on day five of the opening Test in Mount Maunganui.

The Barbados-born bowler tweeted that it was “a bit disturbing hearing racial insults today whilst battling to help save my team”. The 24-year-old later told ESPN cricinfo that the abuser was a solitary New Zealand spectator making comments “about the colour of my skin”.

Archer has been a powerful advocate for diversity in cricket and Giles, when asked how the player was faring, replied: “The tweet, it was obviously emotional, it hurts. “We fully support Jof, there is no place for racism in the game... you know what our team is like, they’ll rally round him.”

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The incident has overshadowed the result of the first Test ever at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval, which New Zealand won by an innings and 65 runs.

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson described the taunt as “horrific”, while New Zealand Cricket said the culprit would be reported to the police and face a life ban if identified from the venue’s CCTV footage.

Williamson said such racism was “against everything that we as Kiwis are about”. “It’s a horrific thing. In a country and a setting where it is very much multicultural,” he told stuff.co.nz. “It’s something we need to put to bed quickly and hope nothing like that ever happens again.”

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford backed Archer. “Unreal talent and already a national hero. Deserve better bro so just keep doing your thing,” United and England striker Rashford said in a tweet.