England coach Paul Collingwood insists dressing-room will 'keep trying to learn' after Gary Ballance - who played for his country in 2017 - admitted using racial slurs towards ex-Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq By Lawrence Booth for MailOnline Published: 18:01 GMT, 4 November 2021 | Updated: 18:10 GMT, 4 November 2021 Viewcomments Paul Collingwood has said the England dressing-room will ‘keep trying to learn’ after it emerged that Gary Ballance – who played international cricket as recently as 2017 – admitted using racial slurs during his time with former Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq. England’s assistant coach said the team had been following the Rafiq story closely from the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Collingwood said: ‘We’ve really worked hard over the last few years with the courage, respect and unity that we have in the dressing-room, and that’s a motto that we live by. ‘I know it’s very important to this group of players that it’s an environment where people feel safe. 'I hope it continues and I’m sure it will. We’ve got a very diverse group of players and I know everybody feels really welcome in that dressing-room. ‘It’s an education for all of us, as long as we keep trying to improve ourselves. Paul Collingwood said the England dressing-room will ‘keep trying to learn’ following the fallout from the Yorkshire racism row Gary Ballance (left) – who played international cricket as recently as 2017 – admitted using racial slurs during his time with former Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq (right) 'Hopefully we can create a culture that people look at and are very proud of. It’s an education forever – keep trying to learn, understand and get better.’ With England’s Test specialists leaving for Australia on Thursday ahead of the Ashes, Collingwood also warned that Covid bubbles were beginning to take their toll on players of every nationality. 'It’s tough,’ he said. ‘Being very honest, I’m not sure how much more bubble life world cricket can take – not just the England team. Collingwood also warned that Covid bubbles were beginning to take their toll on players 'We’re going to have to look closely at mental welfare moving forwards. I don’t think it can continue for too much longer. A lot of players and management around the world are close to capacity in terms of how much they can take with this.’ England are expected to use former Australian seamer Troy Cooley in a consultancy capacity before the first Ashes Test Brisbane on December 8. Cooley was England’s bowling coach during the build-up to the 2005 Ashes, before taking up the role with Australia the following year. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility