Somerset launch investigation following allegations against Jack Brooks

The club have refused to comment further on the case against the 37-year-old after a complaint was lodged on Sunday (November 14). Brooks was then mentioned during Azeem Rafiq's DCMS testimony

Somerset have opened an immediate investigation into allegations regarding fast bowler Jack Brooks.

A complaint lodged against the 37-year-old was received on Sunday (November 14) and refers to his spell at Yorkshire.

The nature of the charge has not been revealed by the club, who have promised to release a further statement in due course.

"Late on Sunday (November 14) evening, Somerset County Cricket Club was made aware of allegations regarding one of our players, Jack Brooks, which occurred while he was employed by Yorkshire CCC," said the Taunton club.

"An investigation was immediately launched and is ongoing.

"It would be inappropriate for the club to comment further until this process has been concluded.

"A further statement will be made in due course."

Brooks represented Yorkshire between 2013 and 2018 before moving to Somerset the following season. In September, he signed a new one-year contract taking him until the end of the 2022 campaign.

The day after the complaint was made against Brooks he was named in Azeem Rafiq's testimony as part of the DCMS hearing into racism in cricket.

^{Cheteshwar Pujara has two spells at Yorkshire in 2015 and 2018}

As part of a multitude of incidents regarding what he believed was institutional racism at Yorkshire, Rafiq said the right-armer, who has also represented Northamptonshire, would call India batter Cheteshwar Pujara 'Steve' instead of his real name.

"Jack Brooks started it, he didn't feel the need to call him by his first name," he said. "There is an interview with Cheteshwar where he said I'd prefer them not to. 

"It just shows what that environment showed people how they could behave."

Speaking in 2018, Pujara confirmed he had been given the name by Brooks.

"I think is it Jack Brooks who started off with this," he said. "He couldn't pronounce my first name so he was asking what nickname do I have? 

"He said we'll start calling you Steve. It is a good nickname, but I prefer Cheteshwar."

News of the investigation also comes after Somerset confirmed they have a "zero-tolerance approach to any form of behaviour which is anything other than inclusive for all, regardless of gender, race, sexuality or any other characteristic".

All staff have also been reminded how to submit complaints, which the club have pledged to support and fully investigate.