Essex focused on further trophies amid fallout from racism scandal

Essex will turn their focus back to on-field matters on Thursday for the start of the LV= Insurance County Championship season following a winter of racism allegations.

The Chelmsford-based county became engulfed in scandal last November when John Faragher resigned from his position as chairman over alleged racist remarks he made at a board meeting in 2017.

Faragher denied the accusation, but Essex this week pleaded guilty to two England and Wales Cricket Board charges of bringing the game into disrepute, one relating to the alleged comment and the other to the club’s failure to report or investigate the incident until recently.

While the club awaits their punishment from the Cricket Discipline Commission, expected to be a large fine after their guilty plea, a separate investigation is being conducted by Katharine Newton QC over historic allegations of racism involving former players.

Zoheb Sharif, Maurice Chambers and Jahid Ahmed have all alleged they were subjected to racism during their time with the county, although the PA news agency understands it is felt a shift in mindset and attitudes has occurred in the Essex changing room since the trio’s days, with Chambers the most recent to leave in 2013.

Current captain Tom Westley was not permitted to talk about the ongoing investigations during this week’s media day, but did acknowledge the impact of Anthony McGrath, who joined in 2016 before being promoted to head coach two seasons later.

“Anthony McGrath has created the best culture I have ever witnessed within a sport’s changing room,” Westley told the PA news agency.

“His fundamental is you sign on character. You sign people who are ambitious, who buy into the team and who are selfless. I think that has underpinned a