Jofra Archer's England team-mates must rally round the paceman after the racist abuse he suffered during the first Test in New Zealand, says ECB director of cricket Ashley Giles.
Archer revealed on Twitter the "disturbing" abuse from "one guy" shortly after the tourists were routed by an innings in Mount Maunganui.
The ECB is investigating reports that the person who racially abused Archer has since contacted the England bowler directly on social media. It is not clear at this stage whether that contact formed part of an apology, or further abuse.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is attempting to locate the alleged offender, with the governing body's chief executive warning they could face criminal charges as well as being banned for life from attending any future matches involving the Black Caps.
"If we do find the person, we'll refer them to the police, I think that's appropriate in this case," NZC chief executive David White told 1 News. "My sense is that person should not be allowed into a cricket ground for the rest of their lives in New Zealand."
- Archer upset by 'disturbing racial abuse'
- Athers: Root caught 'in two minds'
- Anderson, Wood to attend training camp
Giles has been liaising with the home board in his role as managing director of the England men's team and is also checking in with the 24-year-old Archer.
Giles said: "It was obviously emotional, it hurts.
"We fully support Jofra, obviously, there is no place for racism in the game, in any game. Jofra is part of our team but, whatever the abuse, we'd be absolutely right behind him. He's a very important part of our team.
"You know what our team is like, they'll rally round him pretty well I should imagine. But it's a serious incident. He's a young man making his way in the game and we just don't need this sort of thing."
It is believed that a rogue individual is to blame, but Giles has left no doubt one racist heckler is one too many to abide.
Giles added: "We're working really closely with New Zealand Cricket and I've spoken to their chief executive this morning. They are obviously incredibly concerned that this happened on their patch. At the moment we believe it's an isolated incident but we'll know more once the investigation is finished.
"I'm hopeful they will find out who it is. There's a lot of CCTV around the grounds, I'm hoping someone else who was there might also identify the person but they're working very hard to find the culprit.
"It's a problem in sport still, clearly. It's terrible in this day and age that this sort of thing is still happening and when it does happen and that person isn't identified much quicker, even by the people around them it's really disappointing."
England are heading inland for Thursday's second Test at Hamilton, where New Zealand Cricket has promised increased security on the ground, with Giles revealing that White has also volunteered to step in personally to reassure the team.
He said: "I do know David is travelling down to Hamilton as well to meet the team as they come off the bus," he said.
"It is very kind of him. It isn't a New Zealand Cricket problem, the relationship between us and them is very strong, but it's a nice gesture in his part. One person shouldn't ruin that but it's a shame that sort of thing is still in our society."
Williamson: Archer abuse 'horrific'
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson labelled the alleged racist abuse directed towards Archer as "horrific".
Williamson intends to personally apologise to Archer if they cross paths ahead of the second Test at Hamilton later this week.
"I will try, over the next few days if I can see him, definitely," Williamson - who was born and raised in Tauranga, only a couple of miles from Mount Maunganui, where he now resides - told Nine Media's Stuff website.
"I can only apologise on behalf of Kiwis to Jofra, not only from our team and how we look to conduct ourselves, but what we expect of Kiwis in general.
"It's certainly against everything that we as Kiwis are about and I certainly hope that nothing like that ever happens again.
"It's a horrific thing. In a country and a setting where it is very much multi-cultural, it's something we need to put to bed quickly and hope nothing like that ever happens again.
"It certainly won't if there's any influence we can have on it."