ICC steps in over homophobic claim
Skipper Root praised as Gabriel faces possible sanction
Joe Root has been hailed by anti-discrimination campaigners for his response to potentially homophobic comments by West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.
Gabriel has been charged by the International Cricket Council for his altercation with Root, which happened as he scored his 16th test century during the third day in St Lucia.
The ICC said that Gabriel had been charged with a breach of its code of conduct. The governing body tweeted that “the charge, which was laid by match umpires, will now be dealt with by match referee Jeff Crowe”.
Gabriel already has three demerit points on his disciplinary record and if found guilty this will take him to six or seven (depending on the finding of the match referee) which would equate to a two-test ban or four one-day internationals.
Steve Davies, the Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman who played eight one-dayers for England and who came out as gay in 2011, praised Root. “There is no room in the game for any form of discrimination," he said. "Well done Joe Root and England. Respect."
Alastair Cook, who is in St Lucia working for the BBC, said Gabriel had gone too far if it is proven he used homophobic language.
“If it is a homophobic comment, Gabriel has crossed the line," he said. “You know the responsibility when you represent your country but we are all humans. He's said something which — we think — is totally unacceptable and unfortunately he must be punished for it.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, in St Lucia in his role as a television commentator, tweeted his admiration for Root's stance.
"I don't know who said what to whom, but boy do I applaud Joe Root's reaction here," Hussain wrote. "For me his twelve words as a role model will be in the end more important than a test hundred or possible victory."
Gabriel has had a running feud with Root and Ben Stokes throughout the series. At one stage on Monday the umpires intervened and warned Gabriel about his language while Root was batting.
England earned a consolation test win by 232 runs in four days yesterday.
The English set the West Indies 485 and most of two days to win the third and final test, and bowled out the home side for 252 to prevent being whitewashed. The West Indies won the series 2-1 in brilliant style, and despite losing, finished with smiles.
England had been certain of victory since day two when Mark Wood took 5-41 to earn a firstinnings lead of 123. After making the target unreachable on Monday, Root declared early Tuesday as soon as he was out for 122. They had a massive 484-run lead.
The West Indies knew they were never going to win. Allrounder Keemo Paul was last seen with a torn right quadricep on a stretcher being loaded into an ambulance and top-order batsman Darren Bravo didn’t field on the third day to nurse a finger injury.
Bravo was quickly out in the middle and back in the pavilion just as quick after scoring a duck, as England fast bowler James Anderson reduced the home side to 10-3.
By then Roston Chase was at the crease, and showing again the grit England generally lacked in the series. He was on 78 when Alzarri Joseph went out blazing with 34 off 30 balls, and was joined by No 10 Shannon Gabriel. Gabriel seemed not to care to help Chase reach a defiant ton, throwing his wicket away for 3 while Chase was on 98.
Then the drama went up a notch as Paul limped out to the middle to help Chase. Paul blocked one ball and gave the strike to Chase, who achieved the hundred by cutting Joe Denly for his 12th boundary.
Back on strike, Paul couldn’t run but hit Stokes for three boundaries before giving Stokes a caught and bowled and to the test and series.
Well done Joe Root and England. Respect. Steve Davies