Andrew Gale insult: I did not detect any racism, says Ashwell Prince

Yorkshire captain was banned for two matches for meting out some verbal abuse

Andrew Gale (PA)

The Lancashire batsman Ashwell Prince has revealed he did not consider there to be a racist element to the verbal abuse delivered to him by the Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale.

Gale was banned for two matches after being reported by umpires for his part in an unseemly bust-up at the end of the third day’s play in the Roses match earlier this month.

That punishment was then extended by the England and Wales Cricket Board to prevent Gale playing an active part in lifting the County Championship trophy following Yorkshire’s victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last week.

Subsequent reports indicated that Gale had referred to South African Prince as a “fucking Kolpak” and that the racial connotations of the term were key to the charge.

“I took offence to the way he spoke to me, that’s the bottom line,” said Prince. “The way the guy approached me and spoke to me, that’s what I took offence to. I didn’t stand there and think, ‘That may be a racial slur’.

Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince (left) and Andrew Gale, of Yorkshire, clash as they leave the field at Old Trafford on 2 September (GETTY IMAGES)

Yorkshire, who have vowed to fight to clear Gale’s name, will be interested in Prince’s words ahead of the upcoming disciplinary hearing.

Meanwhile, Durham received an early boost ahead of Saturday’s Royal London Cup final when Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell was ruled out with a broken toe yesterday afternoon. Bell sustained the injury playing for England last month, and had been hoping to recover in time to line up at Lord’s.

However, Warwickshire’s medical staff were forced to admit defeat yesterday and the 32-year-old will not be considered for Saturday’s game.

“I’m gutted to miss out on a Lord’s final and the opportunity to play in a second domestic final,” said Bell, who was part of the Warwickshire side which won the T20 Blast last month. “However, injuries are part of the game.”

The batsman’s absence will be a considerable blow to Warwickshire as they will be deprived of the services of the most successful one-day finalist in either squad as they go for their second trophy of the season having won the T20 Blast.