Brook apologises after nightclub altercation before ODI in NZ
England's Harry Brook apologises after being involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before an ODI on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes.
England's Harry Brook has apologised after being involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before a one-day international on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes.
A report in the Telegraph revealed Brook, England's white-ball captain, was struck by the bouncer after being refused entry to a club the night before the third ODI in Wellington.
Brook, who is also England's Test vice-captain, has avoided being stripped of the white-ball job but has been fined around £30,000 and is on a final warning for his future conduct.
The revelation comes at the end of England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, a tour dogged by accusations of a slack team culture, including players drinking too much on a holiday in Noosa.
"I want to apologise for my actions," said Brook in statement. "I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team.
"Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously and I am deeply sorry for letting down my team-mates, coaches and supporters. I have reflected on the lessons it has taught me about responsibility, professionalism and the standards expected of those representing your country.
"I am determined to learn from this mistake and to rebuild trust through my future actions, both on and off the field. I apologise unreservedly and will work hard to ensure this does not happen again."
A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "We are aware of this incident and it has been dealt with through a formal and confidential ECB disciplinary process. The player involved has apologised and acknowledged their conduct fell below expectations on this occasion."
Brook, who was made white-ball captain last year, will still lead England in the forthcoming T20 World Cup and the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, beginning in two weeks' time.
The 26-year-old has performed below his best in the Ashes, scoring 358 runs in 10 innings without a century.
Following the incident in Wellington, England slumped to 31-4 against New Zealand in a match which started at 14:00, including Brook being dismissed for six. The tourists eventually lost by two wickets.
On the same night of the altercation with the bouncer, Brook and England team-mate Jacob Bethell were filmed drinking and the video later posted on social media.
Before the fourth Ashes Test, England director of cricket Rob Key revealed he had spoken to Brook and Bethell about their behaviour in New Zealand, while at the same time confirming he would investigate England's drinking in Noosa.
"I didn't feel like that was worthy of formal warnings, but it was probably worthy of informal ones," said Key.
It has been confirmed Key was referring to a clip of Brook and Bethell on social media, rather then the later incident involving Brook.
England's off-field conduct has come under heavy scrutiny during this Ashes series.
Coach Brendon McCullum had removed the England players' midnight curfew, which had been in place since the 2017-18 tour of Australia.
That curfew came into force after England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was accused of headbutting Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar.
In announcing a review into this winter's tour, ECB chief executive Richard Gould said "behaviour" will be analysed.
"It doesn't surprise me," former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Sport.
"For it to have broken on the back of losing 4 -1 in Australia, on the back of what happened in Noosa, on the looseness of the players on the pitch in terms of their discipline with some of their strokes, it kind of tells you that whole culture around the team, the group and the ECB needs to change."
England took the four-night break in Noosa between the second and third Tests. Including two preceding nights in Brisbane, some players spent as many as six successive days drinking. Brook was one of the players photographed in a Noosa bar.
Also in Noosa, opening batter Ben Duckett was filmed by a member of the public apparently drunk, with the video later appearing on social media.
Vaughan, who captained England to victory in the 2005 Ashes, added: "The Noosa trip was fine for me, but the Noosa trip on the back of now what we now know what went on in New Zealand, you have to point the finger at the leadership group of the ECB.
"The highest level of management of the ECB need to look at themselves in the mirror because they were clearly trying to brush that under the carpet because the Ashes were coming up."
Brook was made England's Test vice-captain before the Ashes series, replacing Ollie Pope.
"They've tried to protect their white-ball captain, which in a funny way I get because the Ashes were coming up," said Vaughan.
"Fundamentally, when the captain of England has a disciplinary issue, you have got to deal with it there and then.
"I have been around the block for many years and it generally always comes out. You might as well deal with it as soon as it happens. They haven't and now we are talking about an issue that was two months ago. The professionalism and attention to detail has been lacking."