England cricket captain hailed for standing up to homophobia
ENGLAND cricket captain Joe Root was praised for standing up to homophobia yesterday after telling a West Indies player: ‘There’s nothing wrong with being gay.’
The comment was caught on camera as Root, 28, argued with bowler Shannon Gabriel during the third Test match in St Lucia. Gabriel is alleged to have made a homophobic comment towards Root and was warned by the match umpires over his ‘abusive’ language.
The England batsman, who married long-term girlfriend Carrie Cotterell in December, replied: ‘Don’t use that as an insult.’ When Gabriel, 30, replied ‘what’s that?’, Root repeated himself, telling the fast bowler: ‘Don’t use that as an insult. There is nothing wrong with being gay.’ Former players, gay rights campaigners and MPs praised Root – who went on to score a century – for standing up to ‘what he thought was homophobic abuse’.
Sport minister Mims Davies said: ‘What a leader. Huge respect for doing the right thing.’ Nasser Hussain, former England captain and Daily Mail columnist, said: ‘He stood up to what he thought was homophobic abuse and said “I’m not having that”.’
Kirsty Clarke, of Stonewall, added: ‘It’s great if Joe Root was willing to challenge potentially abusive comments.’ Root’s comments were picked up on a microphone fitted into the stumps, but it remains unclear what words Gabriel actually used. The England team claims he said ‘batty boy’ – a derogatory term for a gay man in the Caribbean. The West Indies team suggested he was misheard, and actually said ‘little boy’.
Root told a TV interviewer that Gabriel said something he ‘might regret’. However, he refused to reveal what was said as it should ‘stay on the field’.
It remains illegal for men to have sexual activity with other men on St Lucia and seven other Caribbean islands.
THE death of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks robbed the nation of a sporting role model. But cricket captain Joe Root showed yesterday there are still decent men representing the country.
After scoring a century against the West Indies, the batsman received apparently homophobic sledging from a bowler.
With a withering look, Root replied: ‘There’s nothing wrong with being gay.’
Well said, skipper! Bigotry is still rife in the intense world of men’s sport. But with six simple words, Root has boldly fought the corner of gay men and women.
On and off the field, he has done the nation proud.
THE determination of Mail readers to fight the tide of litter that chokes wildlife and blights fields, rivers and beaches is awe-inspiring. An amazing 55,000 have now vowed to take part in the Great British Spring Clean – including more than 7,000 yesterday. It is another giant leap towards creating a cleaner, greener planet for future generations. Why not volunteer to join in?