Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer during England’s recent tour of New Zealand, in the latest off-the-field misdemeanour by the country’s cricketing stars.
The incident took place on October 31, on the eve of the third ODI in Wellington, when the bouncer refused him entry because he suspected he was drunk.
A row ensued, and the England white-ball captain was struck, but not hurt, and reported himself to the England management.
As a result he has been warned over his future conduct – with the incident taking place just before a disastrous Ashes tour.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Brook – who made just six in England’s two-wicket defeat by New Zealand next day – came close to losing the white-ball captaincy, but instead was fined £30,000, the maximum possible amount.
‘I want to apologise for my actions,’ he said in a statement.
Harry Brook has apologised after being embroiled in an incident with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand on the eve of captaining England in their third ODI there (pictured in October)
Brook – who has endured a frustrating Ashes series – was struck by the bouncer but not hurt. However, he told England management and was fined £30,000 as well as put on a final warning
Brook is seen as the successor to Ben Stokes as England Test captain in the future
‘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.’
An ECB spokesperson 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.’
The news emerged on the day England slumped to a crushing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Sydney, and came only a few weeks after unwelcome scrutiny over the tourists’ four-day trip to Noosa, a holiday resort on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
A late-night video of opening batsman Ben Duckett slurring his words during the trip went viral, prompting managing director Rob Key to say that excessive drinking would be ‘unacceptable’.
Last month a video emerged online of England’s Ben Duckett appearing to be drunk in Australia
In the video, he is seen alone and lost when asked if he knows where he is staying
Daily Mail Sport later revealed that Key had closed the investigation into Noosa, with the players deemed to have no case to answer.
Brook was made Test vice-captain for the Ashes tour, and is regarded as Ben Stokes’s likeliest successor.
