England is playing the Test match for the first time ever in St Lucia and Joe Root’s side are aiming to restore some pride after losing the...
England is playing the Test match for the first time ever in St Lucia and Joe Root’s side are aiming to restore some pride after losing the series to the West Indies. Following heavy defeats in Barbados and Antigua, England players head to St Lucia knowing that there’s only one four-day Test against Ireland before facing Australia in the Ashes this summer.
Still, among this heavy blow, England’s Joe Root scored unbeatable 111 which lead his team to create 448 in the third test. Root scored 111 from 209 balls which made England confident. According to television footage Root can be seen responding to Gabriel by saying that there is nothing wrong with being gay.
Root responding to a comment from Gabriel by saying: "Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay."
The incident could still appear at the end of match report and the International Cricket Council and West Indies cricket board could still take action.
"You're playing Test cricket, people will look at this game as a dead rubber but it certainly doesn't feel like that when you're playing for your country - everything counts, every opportunity counts," said Root after the close of day three.
"You can see that in the way he approaches the game and that's how I feel about it as well.
"Sometimes things are said on the field but they should stay on the field. I think they can sometimes be caught in the moment and not always say what you want to say or think you're saying.
"I think you should leave it there."
Kirsty Clarke, director of sport at LGBT charity Stonewall, said: "Language is really influential and it's great if Joe Root was willing to challenge potentially abusive comments.
"The more players, fans, clubs and organizations that stand up for equality in sport, the sooner we kick discrimination out and make sports everyone's game."
West Indies coach Richard Pybus said nothing had been reported but if anything untoward was said it will be reviewed and addressed.
"I think the fast bowlers are always going to try and impose themselves on the game," he added. "It's always a proper tussle out there. I think it is pretty standard.
"The series has been played in exceptional spirit, I wouldn't want to pre-empt anything.
"Shannon is a proper old-school fast bowler, I think we need to find out if there is anything behind the rumours and then we'll address it..
Still, among this heavy blow, England’s Joe Root scored unbeatable 111 which lead his team to create 448 in the third test. Root scored 111 from 209 balls which made England confident. According to television footage Root can be seen responding to Gabriel by saying that there is nothing wrong with being gay.
Root responding to a comment from Gabriel by saying: "Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay."
Check Video Here:
The original comment by Gabriel was not picked up and Root refused to explain after play exactly what was said.
— Alan Conduct (@misterc88) February 11, 2019
The incident could still appear at the end of match report and the International Cricket Council and West Indies cricket board could still take action.
"You're playing Test cricket, people will look at this game as a dead rubber but it certainly doesn't feel like that when you're playing for your country - everything counts, every opportunity counts," said Root after the close of day three.
"You can see that in the way he approaches the game and that's how I feel about it as well.
"Sometimes things are said on the field but they should stay on the field. I think they can sometimes be caught in the moment and not always say what you want to say or think you're saying.
"I think you should leave it there."
Kirsty Clarke, director of sport at LGBT charity Stonewall, said: "Language is really influential and it's great if Joe Root was willing to challenge potentially abusive comments.
"The more players, fans, clubs and organizations that stand up for equality in sport, the sooner we kick discrimination out and make sports everyone's game."
West Indies coach Richard Pybus said nothing had been reported but if anything untoward was said it will be reviewed and addressed.
"I think the fast bowlers are always going to try and impose themselves on the game," he added. "It's always a proper tussle out there. I think it is pretty standard.
"The series has been played in exceptional spirit, I wouldn't want to pre-empt anything.
"Shannon is a proper old-school fast bowler, I think we need to find out if there is anything behind the rumours and then we'll address it..
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