FORMER Oxfordshire cricketer Jack Brooks has been 'reprimanded' by Somerset for historical tweets that included racist language.

The two posts date back to 2012, when the seamer was at Northamptonshire and used an offensive term in response to cricketers Tymal Mills and fellow Oxon player Stewart Laudat.

Somerset launched an investigation and have decided to ‘reprimand Jack, remind him of his responsibilities and require him to participate in extensive training on equality, diversity and inclusivity’.

The 36-year-old has apologised 'unreservedly' and said he ‘deeply regrets' using the language. He has recently deleted his Twitter account.

Brooks was among several players mentioned in former teammate’s Azeem Rafiq’s testimony to MPs on Tuesday regarding racism at Yorkshire.

Rafiq said Brooks called Cheteshwar Pujara ‘Steve’ when they were at the club together because he could not pronounce his name, even though the Indian batsman preferred him not to.

In a lengthy statement, Brooks said: “I acknowledge that the language used in two tweets I made in 2012 was unacceptable and I deeply regret using it.

“I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused to anybody who may have seen these tweets.

“The two players to whom I sent the tweets are my friends and it was certainly not my intention to cause distress or offence to them or anyone who read them.

“It is my understanding that neither individual was offended at the time, but I accept that language is important and that a word I used may have caused offence to others.

“I condemn discrimination of any sort and I should never have used discriminatory language, no matter what the intention and context was. I wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused.

“With reference to my naming in Azeem Rafiq’s statement to MPs this week, the use of the name ‘Steve’ related to some people having difficult names to pronounce.

“When this has occurred in the past in a dressing room environment, it has been commonplace to give nicknames, regardless of creed or race.

“I admit to having used it in this context and now accept that it was disrespectful and wrong to do so.

“I have reached out and apologised to Cheteshwar for any offence that I have caused him or his family.

“At the time I didn’t recognise this as racist behaviour, but I can now see that it was not acceptable.”

Brooks played a one-off T20 match for Oxfordshire last summer, but his previous appearance for the county came back in 2009.

That was the year he began his professional career at Northamptonshire, before joining Yorkshire for the 2013 season and moving to Somerset two years ago.

The county said: "Jack agrees with this sentiment and is embarrassed and devastated that his comments offended people and he has acknowledged that, whilst they were made nearly a decade ago when he was less mature, the content of the posts was wrong and not in accordance with his personal values.

“Jack has engaged honestly and openly throughout the investigation and unreservedly apologies for his past errors.

“Before arriving at conclusions, the club considered a number of factors including no evidence of repeated documented behaviour of this kind, the contrition shown by Jack throughout the process, feedback received from recipients of the social media posts, and his commitment to his own personal development.”

Somerset also revealed Brooks and his partner had been sent 'threatening posts on social media', which have been reported to the authorities.

Laudat took to social media to defend Brooks, saying: "With regard to the historical tweet that has come to light between my friend Jack Brooks and I, I would like to state that I understand that things that have been said or expressed are now under increased scrutiny and rightly so if we are to address all forms of discrimination.

"But without context, misunderstandings and misconceptions are easily made.

“It upsets me that Jack's character is being questioned over this tweet because I've known him for a long time and have never been made to feel uncomfortable in any conversations we've had.

"I consider Jack to be a good friend and a credit to his family and his profession."