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Joe Root Brilliantly Responds To Homophobic 'Sledging' From Shannon Gabriel

Joe Root Brilliantly Responds To Homophobic 'Sledging' From Shannon Gabriel

The West Indies bowler's insult wasn't picked up by the mics but Joe Root put him right on the pitch and went on to score a century.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Joe Root finally put his bad form behind him against the West Indies in the third test but he was most roundly being applauded for his response to sledging by WIndies bowler Shannon Gabriel.

Depending on who you listen to sledging is either the best thing about cricket or the worst thing that's ever happened to the sport and against the 'spirit of the game.'

Some sledging of the past has become infamous, almost mythical, in the sport. Lots of sledges focus on the size of the opposition, cricket hasn't always been played by the most slender of men.

Perhaps most famously Glenn McGrath once asked Zimbabwean Eddo Brandes 'why are you so fat' with the all rounder brilliantly answering, 'Because everytime I f*ck your wife she gives me a biscuit,' that's standing ovation good.

Another personal favourite is Mark Waugh telling James Ormond there was 'no way you're good enough to play for England' only for the bowler to quip that 'at least I'm the best player in my family.'

Those might seem quite personally offensive to people but at least it's pretty jokey and very much aimed at one person. On Monday evening West Indies quick bowler Shannon Gabriel sledged England captain Joe Root with something that wasn't picked up by the mics but Root's brilliant response suggested that Gabriel's sledge went too far and was homophobic:

Gabriel was warned for his language on the pitch by the umpire following the telling off by England's number four batsman, who was on 23 runs at the time.

Speaking on BBC radio 5 Live former England international Ebony Rainford-Brent said, "Well done Root. We don't know exactly what was said but what we can take from it is that whatever Joe thought he heard, his response was one of a leader.

"It's one thing being an England captain, but having that awareness and presence in that moment to be prepared to stand up for something, that's what's interesting."

Joe Root raises his bat after scoring a half century. Image: PA Images
Joe Root raises his bat after scoring a half century. Image: PA Images

Root was receiving plaudits all over social media for his actions and he was also having a good day with the bat, going on to reach his century.

It hadn't been a good series for the Yorkshire man but the third Test of the series has seen him turn things around.

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Topics: England, Cricket News