Former England international Gary Ballance on Wednesday admitted using a racial slur against former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq in a swirling row that has cost the county a host of sponsors. 

“I regret that I used this word in immature exchanges in my younger years,” Ballance said in a statement. Ballance, 31, who played 23 Test matches for England, said: “It has been reported that I used a racial slur and, as I told the independent enquiry, I accept that I did so and I regret doing so.”