Gale hit by further two-match Yorkshire ban

The Yorkshire captain will miss the MCC champion county fixture in Abu Dhabi in March and 2015's opening LV= County Championship match.

Gale, frustrated at Prince's time-wasting late on day three, is understood to have sworn at the South African, told him to get back to his own country and referred to his status as a Kolpak player.

On September 11, Gale was charged with 'failing to conduct himself fairly and properly on the field'.

He was also charged with 'conducting himself in a manner which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute'.

An ECB statement today read: "The charges were brought in respect of comments made by Mr Gale to an opposing player that caused offence and/or may be perceived as discriminatory as a result of the reference to the nationality of the person to whom they were made."

In effect, he was charged with racism.

The matter was due to be resolved at a formal hearing by the ECB's cricket discipline commission, although that will now not happen.

Although Gale has not been found guilty of racism, he has accepted that he was in the wrong.

The statement continued: "Mr Gale admits that his conduct was improper and contrary to these ECB directives.

"He acknowledges and deeply regrets that the words he used caused any offence and, in particular, that they could have caused offence as a result of the reference to the nationality of the person to whom they were made.

"Mr Gale wishes to express that this was absolutely not his intention."

Gale was initially just banned for the final two Championship matches of 2014. He has also been told to go on an anger management course.

Yorkshire have stood by their skipper throughout this process and they are yet to make an official statement in response. It is therefore unclear as to whether this will see an end to the matter.