Ashes: England will stop play if abuse from Australian crowd crosses the line

Joe Root will bring a halt to an Ashes Test if any England player is subjected to racial or abusive comments from the Australian crowd.

England’s captain has been empowered to take the strongest possible action should the traditionally raucous Ashes atmosphere in Australia cross the line of acceptability.

Ashley Giles, the England managing director, backed his captain to take a stand on Sunday as he addressed the racism crisis that has engulfed the game while also looking ahead to the biggest battle in Test cricket, that begins in Brisbane next week.

England captain Joe Root won’t hesitate to stop play if his players are abused during the Ashes

It will be just Australian fans during the upcoming Ashes series with travel restricted

It will be just Australian fans during the upcoming Ashes series with travel restricted 

‘We know crowds can be lively there,’ said the former England spinner. ‘I’ve experienced that myself as a player. But it’s important to say from the start there is no room for discrimination in our game.

‘I’d certainly trust Joe Root to do what’s right. If he chose to bring the team into the middle of the field and stop the game while any incident is investigated then absolutely.’

The presence of only one non-white player in England’s Ashes squad in Haseeb Hameed may reduce the risk of a racial flashpoint but Giles went further when he addressed possible issues with an Australian crowd that will be even more partisan than usual because of travel restrictions that will stop any supporters travelling from England.

England skipper Root takes a breather during a nets session at the Gabba on Sunday

England skipper Root takes a breather during a nets session at the Gabba on Sunday

England's managing director Giles says England will take action if abuse crosses the line

England’s managing director Giles says England will take action if abuse crosses the line

‘I don’t think any of our players should be subject to any abuse actually but discrimination and racism particularly,’ he added.’ 

The first Test begins at the Gabba, a venue known for its hostility towards England players, on December 8.

Meanwhile, Giles has warned cricket will ‘have a problem’ in its fight against racism unless it gives people ‘second chances’.

Giles revealed there had been lots of reflection from within England’s Ashes squad in the wake of the racism scandal raised by Azeem Rafiq’s allegations against Yorkshire and said ‘discrimination of any form just isn’t acceptable’.

He added: ‘If zero tolerance means there is no acceptance of racism and discrimination, absolutely, that’s completely right. 

‘But for me, if zero tolerance means that we cut people off, we don’t give second chances, we don’t give people the chance to rehabilitate, then I think we’ve got a problem.

Rafiq gave powerful testimony to MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee

Rafiq gave powerful testimony to MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee  

‘This area is such a sensitive area, a difficult one for some people to talk about, but I fear if we take that route that the gap may widen and not lessen.’

Giles said many of England’s touring party had listened to former Yorkshire bowler Rafiq’s testimony when he spoke to MPs about his experiences and that cricket had a ‘great opportunity’ to lead the way in how sport and society tackles discrimination.

Giles’ former England team-mate Michael Vaughan was accused by Rafiq of making racist remarks, which the ex-Yorkshire captain has denied.

Vaughan, now a television pundit, has apologised to Rafiq ‘for all the hurt’ he suffered and will not be a part of the BBC’s Ashes coverage.  

Giles added: ‘It’s not an excuse for poor behaviour, but I’m sure all of us have made mistakes at times.

‘I’ve been involved in the game over the last 30 years and I’m sure there will be incidents and things I’ve said that I wouldn’t be proud of in a different time and a different context.

Giles (second left) and Michael Vaughan (second right) celebrate Ashes victory in 2005

Giles (second left) and Michael Vaughan (second right) celebrate Ashes victory in 2005

‘I’m sure cricket is not alone in those experiences, but it’s clear we need to keep creating environments where people can keep coming forward and sharing those experiences so we can talk about these issues.

‘To do that we need to educate, we need to share and I also think we need to tolerate.’

Giles insisted people must be given the chance to learn from their mistakes if cricket was to move forward.

He added: ‘We all know it can be a bit of a minefield, even the language we use around this area changes almost by the month.

‘So for me, we’ve got to educate more, we’ve got to call it out in the dressing room much more if we see it, because perhaps all of us in the past – and I’m not just talking about cricket – have let things go.’ 

Rafiq was left ‘incredibly hurt’ when Root said he could not recall ever witnessing racism at Yorkshire.

Earlier this month, the England captain said: ‘Not that I can recall, no… but it’s clear things have happened at the club.’

Rafiq tweeted in response to the comments: ‘Disappointed is not even the feeling. Incredibly hurt, But uncomfortable truths are hard to accept it seems.’

Root said he wanted to see ‘change and actions’ at Yorkshire to make the club a more tolerant and diverse environment.