Gary Ballance has returned to action for Yorkshire 's Second XI, his first appearance for the club since he admitted using racist language towards former teammate Azeem Rafiq.
The 32-year-old admitted to calling Rafiq a "P***" in a lengthy statement back in November and said he 'deeply regrets some of the language I used in my younger years'. Ballance also insisted 'no malice was intended' by his use of the slur, claimed it was 'a situation where best friends said offensive things to each other'.
He last played for Yorkshire in September and has since been charged by the ECB for bringing the game into disrepute, along with six other individuals and the club itself. Ballance had taken a leave of absence from the sport, but returned to the fold for Yorkshire in their Second XI Championship match against Essex.
Yorkshire are yet to bat in the match, but Ballance did take a catch to dismiss Feroze Kushi for 95. Interim managing director of cricket Darren Gough confirmed in March that Ballance would stay at Yorkshire and form part of "an inclusive and welcoming environment".
"It was a difficult situation with Gary," he told the Daily Mail. "He was disciplined by the club, he admitted the use of racist language and apologised for it.
"It's crucial all forms of discrimination are eradicated from our game and society and we talked to Gary about his actions and behaviour. He understands and he's educating himself.
"He's going to be part now of an inclusive and welcoming environment that we're building at Yorkshire and that’s obvious already in our recruitment on the coaching side." New Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson also told the Daily Mail : "Gary Ballance in any team in the County Championship makes that team better.
"We will support him as best as we can and hope that he gets through what he's going through and comes back as soon as he can. He is an asset.
"If the ECB ban him then we would have to deal with that, but if they don't, I would like to think that the club would allow him to continue because he’s done his time. I'd like to think we could get him re-integrated as soon as possible. That would be my hope."
