GerryShedd
Super Moderator
I have seen a tweet today from Somerset saying that fixtures won't be announced before Christmas. I presume that this is because of uncertainty as to what will happen to Yorkshire - could they be relegated or even thrown out of one or more of the competitions for 2022?
I can understand that there are mixed views about the Tim Bresnan decision. Having read the Club's statement in full, however, I don't agree that the whole thing has been brushed under the carpet.
The Club statement was:
"Mark McCafferty, Chair of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “The Club has now spoken at length with Azeem Rafiq and Tim Bresnan about their time at Yorkshire CCC.
“We are grateful for Azeem’s courage and perseverance in spotlighting these issues within the game. It’s clear that both players want to use their experience to support positive change and ensure all players can enjoy the game in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
“Following on from these discussions, all cricketers and coaches at Warwickshire and its Academy will participate in further cultural awareness and appreciation training. Tim will be heavily involved in this process. He fully supports Warwickshire’s stance on inclusivity and understands our expectations of him as a player.
“This awareness training will also be extended to the Club’s wider management team to ensure they adopt the same inclusive principles in all aspects across the business. Warwickshire CCC is determined to reflect the communities we serve at every level, with Edgbaston a safe and welcoming place for all. Nothing will prevent us from achieving this goal.”
Tim Bresnan said: “I have apologised for any distress caused to Azeem when we were both part of the Yorkshire dressing room. I understand that there needs to be a shift in cultural awareness and understanding in the game.
“I am firmly committed to using my experience to support the next generation of Warwickshire cricketers, so that they can learn how to make the dressing room a safe and welcoming place for every cricketer to thrive.”
It's also my understanding that Azeem held lengthy conversations with Chief Executive Stuart Cain and he was in agreement with the end result. Stuart Cain is also meeting with and having telephone conversations with multiple former Warwickshire players to learn more about their experiences at the Club and how the Club can improve.
So that sounds to me much more than just a PR exercise.
Hopefully we will be updated on any further developments and planned actions by the Club.
I recall the Bears' Royal London win at Lord's in 2016. It had already been announced that Recordo had been released and he wasn't in the squad for the final. But when the team paraded the trophy around Lord's after the game, they called him out to join the parade.
In the context of everything that's going on in English cricket at the moment, this is great news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/warwickshire-cricket-board-honoured-at-chance-to-shine-awards/
As they used to say in the Saturday morning cinema serials for kids, "with one bound, he was free!"
https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12478786/warwickshire-will-not-discipline-tim-bresnan-after-role-in-bullying-of-azeem-rafiq-at-yorkshire
To be fair, I am all in favour of redemption and second chances. Maybe Tim can be the archetypal poacher turned gamekeeper.
Congratulations to him - 8 fours and 5 sixes. He's also been doing quite a bit of bowling so another string to his bow. Let's hope his injuries are behind him.
Olly Stone considering retiring from Test cricket:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59336369
I guess that might mean giving up on four day county cricket too.
Ex-Bear Ateeq Javid now getting drawn into this whole mess:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/azeem-rafiq-ashamed-after-historic-anti-semitic-exchange-comes-to-light-1290047
Jack Brooks seems to have escaped with a reprimand:
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/somerset-tymal-mills-cheteshwar-pujara-yorkshire-azeem-rafiq-b1960191.html
I suspect it may not be so easy for Tim Bresnan because the accusations against him suggest a wider pattern of behaviour.
I feel sorry for the Club because, as others have pointed out, they are in a very difficult position. On the one hand, everything that is alleged to have occurred happened while Tim Bresnan was with another county; and he denies the allegations so it may prove very difficult to decide what did and didn't happen. On the other hand, the Club certainly will be concerned about reputational damage and will not want to be lined up alongside Yorkshire CCC as the bad guys in this case.
Tim Bresnan was obviously brought into the Club partly because he still had something to offer as an all-rounder but also because he was seen as an influential senior figure at a time when the Club had lost players like Trotty, Ian Bell, Tim Ambrose and Jeetan Patel. Mark Robinson urged Tim not to use winning the Championship as a reason to retire but to play one more season. He could well be regretting that now that Tim is accused of being (though not actually proved to be) a racist bully.
I agree that these are really serious allegations.
To be fair to the Club, they have now issued an updated statement that in part reads:
"We are seriously concerned to learn of Azeem's direct allegations against Tim Bresnan.
"As a result, Warwickshire CCC will seek to talk to Azeem at the earliest opportunity so that we can fully understand the detail of these allegations. We will then talk to Tim to get his perspective.
"This is a delicate matter, as it involves allegations about Tim's behaviour while at another club. However, as we have said before, racism or bullying will not be tolerated here at Warwickshire, and we will not shirk from investigating these matters in full and taking action if necessary."
I agree that the Club needs to re-think what they are saying and what he is apologising for.
I can't quite match up the Club statement with the extract from the report - the Club says that Tim made a comment about Azeem's weight but the extract from the report is more about general put-downs about Azeem's performances on the field.
The only positives are (a) that he is not alleged to have made any specifically racist comments and (b) that he has unreservedly apologised.
Plenty more to come:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/yorkshire-racism-crisis-azeem-rafiq-the-most-stubborn-man-in-yorkshire-achieves-his-vindication-1288427
(PS - I see that George is still writing for Cricinfo although he is no longer their Senior Correspondent.)
I agree that this is good news:
https://edgbaston.com/news/bears-secure-brathwaite-return-as-t20-captain/
Other than the recurrence of a nasty case of haemorrhoids, it is difficult to imagine much worse than the return of Colin Graves.
The list of sponsors withdrawing has grown:
Nike, Anchor Butter' Yorkshire Tea, Tetley’s Beer, Harrogate Spring Water, David Lloyd Clubs, Bagnalls, Leeds Beckett University
It's rumoured that Lord Patel is to be the new/interim Chair of Yorkshire CCC.
George has taken an expanded role with The Cricketer which should make it required reading from now on:
https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/george_dobell_to_join_the_cricketer_staff_across_print_and_digital.html