Azeem Rafiq: Somerset cricketer Jack Brooks under investigation after using discriminatory language

Cricketer Jack Brooks is reprimanded by Somerset after calling two friends – including England star Tymal Mills – ‘n***o’ on social media nine years ago… as he apologises for using ‘unacceptable’ language

• Jack Brooks has avoided sanction by Somerset after using abusive language
• Brooks has apologised to England star Tymal Mills and Stewart Laudat, 50
• He addressed both as ‘n***o’ in tweets when he was at Northamptonshire in 2012
• The 37-year-old has also said sorry to India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him by the nickname ‘Steve’

By Richard Gibson for the Daily Mail

Jack Brooks avoided serious sanction from Somerset on Thursday for using discriminatory language to two friends — including England star Tymal Mills — in historic social media posts.

Brooks apologised to Mills and Stewart Laudat, 50, an ex-minor counties cricketer with Oxfordshire, for addressing them both as ‘n***o’ in tweets nine years ago when he was a Northamptonshire player.

The 37-year-old also said sorry privately and publicly to India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him by the nickname ‘Steve’, after Azeem Rafiq listed that among the raft of racism allegations directed at Yorkshire during Tuesday’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing.

Somerset took those actions, plus Brooks’ previous conduct and the testimonies of Mills and Laudat, into account in meting out a written rebuke, which concluded: ‘The club has decided to reprimand Jack, remind him of his responsibilities and require him to participate in extensive training on equality, diversity and inclusivity.’

In a statement to Sportsmail, Brooks said: ‘I condemn discrimination of any sort and I should never have used discriminatory language, no matter what the intention and context was. I wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused.

Jack Brooks has avoided serious sanction by Somerset after using discriminatory language

Brooks addressed Tymal Mills and Stewart Laudat as ‘n***o’ in tweets nine years ago

‘With reference to my naming in Azeem Rafiq’s statement to MPs this week, the use of the name “Steve” related to some people having difficult names to pronounce. When this has occurred in the past in a dressing room environment, it has been commonplace to give nicknames, regardless of creed or race.

‘I admit to having used it in this context and now accept that it was disrespectful and wrong to do so. I am genuinely sorry.’

Following an England Lions tour in February 2012, Mills tweeted, ‘Great work by the boys winning the series out in Sri Lanka! Top work lads.’

Brooks has apologised to England star Mills (above) and Stewart Laudat, 50, who played minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire

Brooks also said sorry to India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara for calling him by the nickname ‘Steve’, after Azeem Rafiq (above) listed that particular practice in raft of racism allegations

Brooks, who was tagged in the Twitter post along with Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales and Nathan Buck, replied: ‘Cheers N***o! #brother.’

The previous month, Brooks responded to a congratulatory message from Laudat — ‘Great work Brooksy’ — after he took three wickets in a Lions win over Bangladesh A, with: ‘Cheers n***o!’

Yesterday, Mills said: ‘Jack has apologised to me profusely and sincerely which I have accepted and I still consider him to be a good friend.’

Laudat took to social media on Thursday morning amid the probe, writing on Twitter

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