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Joe Root Backs Resolute Response To Simply Intolerable Racism Issue In Cricket

Joe Root backs resolute response to 'simply intolerable' racism issue in Cricket

England Test captain Joe Root has expressed strongly to allegations of racism towards players of ethnic minority at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club—his domestic county in England.

Root has said that such episode of discrimination has “fractured” and “torn” the game of cricket while there are a lot of efforts underway to make the game more diverse and inclusive. He also said that racism should be rejected outrightly with the strongest possible response.

Urging the Yorkshire county to “educate, unify and reset” to bring about a diverse environment that can subsequently build trust among all societies, the 31-year-old offered his best possible help to this cause.

“It hurts knowing this has happened at YCCC so close to home. It’s my club that I care passionately about. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting. There is no debate about racism. It is simply intolerable,” Root said in a statement.

“These events have fractured our game and torn lives apart. We must now recover and come back together as fans, players, media, and those who work within cricket. We have an opportunity to make the sport we love better for everyone.

“I want to see change and actions that will see YCCC rise from this with a culture that harnesses a diverse environment with trust across all communities that support cricket in the county.

“I will reach out to YCCC's new Chair, Lord Patel, to offer support however I’m able. We have to find a way to move forward and make sure this never happens again. In my opinion, this is a societal issue and needs addressing further afield than just cricket. That being said, we, as a sport, all have to do more.”

Joe Root has reached Australia and is currently undergoing quarantine in Goldcoast along with other Test specialists for the Ashes series against Australia starting December 08 in Brisbane.

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Dean Jones’s Pakistan legacy will last for generations to come: Matthew Hayden

Australia and Pakistan will be up against each other in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup on Thursday in Dubai. Matthew Hayden who is currently associated with the coaching staff in the Pakistan side has been an integral member of the Australian team during his playing days. The former left-handed opening batsman made a special mention of former Australia great Dean Jones, who had coached Islamabad United then Karachi Kings during the first five editions of the Pakistan Super League. "I want to make special mention here of a former teammate and colleague," Hayden said to Cricket.com.au. "Dean Jones ... gave a lot of himself to Cricket Australia but also gave a lot of himself to Pakistan Cricket. His closing words to me, I can hear in my ears, were 'these are my boys, this is something I'm so passionate about,” Hayden further added. Hayden also added that Dean had left a legacy that will last not only this generation but generations to come. "He was just beautifully connected to Pakistan Cricket. May he rest in peace now, knowing the fact that he has left a legacy within this team which will last not only this generation but generations to come,” he said. Pakistan have been an undefeated side in the T20 World Cup 2021 so far having won all their group matches which also included the iconic victory against arch-rivals India. This was the first instance when Pakistan had defeated India in a World Cup fixture.

The Ashes | Australia looking to give Marcus Harris 'extended run' at the top with David Warner

The chairman of selectors of Australia, George Bailey has all but confirmed Australia’s opening pair for the first Test and considerable length of time in the upcoming Ashes series against England scheduled to start on December 08 in Brisbane. Bailey said that Marcus Harris has only got “limited opportunity” for Australia and that the hosts will be confident in giving him an “extended run” at the top of the order. Bailey took cognisance of Harris’s consistent run of form with the bat in Australian domestic circuit and his recent exploits in the English county circuit as well. Bailey’s public support all but confirms that Harris will walk out with David Warner to thwart the bowling attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in his second Ashes series. "It gives you great confidence as a selector when you know your opening batters are locked away as far as a Test series goes. It's a hard spot to bat and to get those places settled, it's really important,” Bailey told RSN radio. "Harry's only had a limited opportunity in the past, and he's been in and out a bit, so we'd love nothing more than for him to hopefully get an opportunity to get in an extended run at it. What we have liked is his consistency. He's obviously been a prolific run-scorer at domestic level here, but also loves the fact he went overseas and had a great year for Leicester as well.” Harris made his debut two years ago in the 2018-19 summer against India after the first-choice opening pair of Warner and Cameron Bancroft was banned from international cricket. He showed signs and technique of a Test opener but lack of big runs made him lose his spot when both Warner and Bancroft returned for the 2019 Ashes series in England. However, he came back in the latter half of the series to replace an out-of-form Bancroft, but there were no piling up of runs from his bat either and hence he had to sit out of the first three Tests of the series against India as well.

T20 World Cup | Mohammad Rizwan, Malik declared fit for Semi-Final clash against Australia

Pakistan team can now heave a sigh of relief as its core members Mohammad Rizwan and Shoaib Malik have been declared fit by Pakistan's medical team for the all-important semi-final clash against Australia in the T20 World Cup. Both the players had been diagnosed with mild flu just the night before the big match and seemed doubtful to make it to the match as was reported across media channels on Wednesday, November 10. The Pakistan team which has been unbeaten till now in its World Cup campaign, face Australia in the semi-final on November 11 in Dubai. Both the players were advised by the medical team on Wednesday to remain inside the hotel and not accompany the rest of the team members to their pre-match practice at Duba Cricket Stadium. The team was also tested for the dreaded Covid-19, but all players tested negative for it. While Malik was the hero for the team in the last game against Scotland, Rizwan has been a pillar of strength with skipper Babar Azam at the top of the order and is one of the biggest reasons for Pakistan’s unbeaten run in this tournament. The winner of this game will face New Zealand in the final on November 14.

T20 World Cup | Jimmy Neesham explains lack of emotions after leading New Zealand's win over England

There are different shades of Jimmy Neesham and he shows all of that on different occasions and at different platforms. He has been one of the wittiest cricketers going around on social media while he has been a muted player on the field. With the bat, he has been known for hitting colossal sixes and a lot of that was evident on the night of the semi-final between New Zealand and England. He bats in the lower-middle order and doesn’t feature in the first-choice bowling attack as well and hence doesn’t quite attract a lot of limelight. However, he changed the course of the game against England by smashing England bowlers to all parts of the ground on his way to an 11-ball 27 that snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat. But, as soon as he was dismissed in the 18th over of the game off Adil Rashid, the game appeared to shift back to equilibrium before Daryl Mitchell woke up from a sluggish innings and plundered Chris Woakes to win the game for the Blackcaps. When Mitchell hit the final four of the game to seal the victory, the whole of the New Zealand dugout was up on its feet in celebration of an unprecedented achievement of reaching the T20 World Cup final, there were two faces who were muted and unmoved at their respective seats. While there should be no prize for guessing that the skipper Kane Williamson would be one of them, there can be a serious element of surprise in finding Neesham being the second person showing no emotion and sitting still on his seat. Social media users were quick to point out that and all of them had to offer a lot of words on that move by Neesham.