Brook apologises after nightclub altercation
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.
In announcing a review into the tour, ECB chief executive Richard Gould said "behaviour" will be analysed.
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 on social media.
Brook was made England's Test vice-captain before the Ashes series, replacing Ollie Pope.
BBC
Former England seamer Stuart Broad says the current team do not have a drinking problem despite a series of incidents involving alcohol this winter.
England limited-overs captain Harry Brook was fined following an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand, while players were pictured drinking across multiple days during a mid-Ashes break in Noosa.
Speaking on his For the Love of Cricket podcast,, external Broad said: "They've just had a couple of guys who have made mistakes and that's got into the media.
"I think it's up to your team-mates to get you out of those situations, and that's when your culture's really strong.
"Ben Duckett isn't left alone, no idea where his hotel is. Harry Brook doesn't get himself in a situation with a bouncer, because they're not allowed anywhere near that situation. So I think that's the thing that will disappoint [head coach] Brendon McCullum."
There has been a suggestion that England might impose a midnight curfew on players, but Broad suggested that might be excessive.
"I really didn't like having a 12 o'clock curfew, because I just didn't feel like you should need it," he added.
"As long as you have people around you to get yourself home at a suitable hour, having the team-mates around you to go, your time's up.
"I look at this England team, they're not drinking. I've seen loads of things about a drinking culture and we got that in 2021-22 when we left Australia.
"Crawley, Pope, and in recent times Stokes and Root - they're not really drinkers, are they? They're not party animals and going out tearing it to shreds.
"There isn't a drinking culture. I'll hang my hat on that, if I'm honest, knowing the boys as well as I do. But it is just making sure the boys don't get in trouble when situations arise."
England started their white-ball tour of New Zealand on 18 October, with multi-format players then heading straight to an Ashes series that lasted from 23 November to 7 January.
England will tour Sri Lanka from 22 January, playing both one-day and T20 internationals, leading into a T20 World Cup campaign that starts on 8 February and could last a month.
"As an international player, you need some sort of release," said Broad.
"If you don't have that mental switch off - I know you [fellow podcast host Jos Buttler] say footballers don't - but cricketers are away six months of the year in hotels, it drives you mad if you don't do anything.
"We've seen Australia winning the Ashes, Travis Head's had the time of his life, living the dream, doing interviews on the wines and all sorts.
"Twelve o'clock, you're not really getting to that time that often, but if you win, you deserve to probably go and relax and enjoy yourself."
Buttler, who will play under Brook in the forthcoming white-ball fixtures, said: "A lot of it is optics as well.
"You've got to be so aware. Your team-mates look after you, also, you've got to look after yourself. There may be some more senior players who are more aware of how to do that.
"That is a price you do pay for being an international cricketer and playing for England - you can't just go and do whatever you want.
"You're professional, you have to live a professional life, which the boys do, and you have to make it look that way as well."
Source: BBC
