People love England captain Joe Root’s response to sledging by this Windies fast bowler
England cricket captain Joe Root’s gone viral with his response to apparent sledging by the West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.
Root was on his way to compiling a century when he was involved in a war of words with the bowler. What Gabriel said wasn’t picked up by the on-field cameras, but what Root said in reply most definitely was.
"Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay."
Joe Root responds to sledging from Windies bowler Shannon Gabriel.
Full story: https://t.co/nRfSmWU5q6 pic.twitter.com/ghoDyGxUOi
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 12, 2019
And here’s what people made of it.
I don’t know who said what to whom .. but boy do I applaud Joe Root’s reaction here . For me his twelve words as a role model will be in the end more important than a test hundred or possible victory. https://t.co/QMDHhO3VAC
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) February 12, 2019
This is what moral courage looks like. Quiet, resilient rejection of homophobia. If we all did this, what a different world. https://t.co/6B7YpNfBNJ
— Johnny Mercer MP (@JohnnyMercerUK) February 12, 2019
Absolute fucking legend this lad. https://t.co/2q3NjL2vcS
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) February 12, 2019
Is it possible to love @root66 more? https://t.co/fmQRP8rBAw
— Eleanor Oldroyd (@EllyOldroyd) February 12, 2019
Lots of respect for Joe Root for this pic.twitter.com/47UP2uS8nK
— Alan White (@aljwhite) February 12, 2019
Well done Joe and shame on Shannon Gabriel. https://t.co/ZD4puYi3aZ
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) February 12, 2019
Perfect response from @root66 https://t.co/UYxdPtGw5V
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 12, 2019
This is literally a game changer @root66 faces down homophobic insult https://t.co/ePyM12RPJN
— Ben de Pear (@bendepear) February 12, 2019
Later Root declined to elaborate on what had been said between the pair.
“Sometimes things are said on the field but they should stay on the field. I think they can sometimes be caught in the moment and not always say what you want to say or think you’re saying. I think you should leave it there.”
