ECB’s Richard Gould calls banter ‘a swear word’ after Yorkshire scandal

Richard Gould, the new ECB chief executive, has said banter is “a swear word” and that the outcomes from the Yorkshire racism scandal mean dressing rooms are now in no doubt as to what is unacceptable language and behaviour.

In his first media outing since taking the role in February, Gould described a proposed cut to the County Championship as “dead in the water”, shared his belief that the Hundred will live past the end of its current broadcast deal in 2028, and revealed England men’s players can now receive multi-year contracts.

But as well as trying to navigate the sport’s structural challenges – and the existential threat resulting from the rise of franchise cricket – the ECB currently finds itself between last Friday’s verdicts in the Yorkshire disciplinary proceedings and the forthcoming report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket.

Prompted by Azeem Rafiq’s testimony, the former saw six former Yorkshire players found guilty of using racist language in the Headingley dressing room. The ICEC report, commissioned in March 2021 and due to be published soon, will offer a broader picture of the sport’s record on discrimination and inclusivity.

Gould, confirming that a separate review into professional dressing room culture by consultants EY Lane 4 has now been completed, cited a recent column by Mark Ramprakash in the Guardian in which the former England batter said a line has been drawn on player behaviour and there is now “no excuse”.

“I was taken by Mark Ramprakash [writing in the Observer] when he said nobody can be in any doubt as to the standards that are required,” said Gould, the former Surrey chief executive who has returned to cricket after a 16-month spell in charge at Bristol City.

“Some of