England white-ball captain Harry Brook says other players were present when he was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer before a one-day international in New Zealand.
Brook had initially suggested he was out on his own in Wellington on the evening of 1 November, but in a statement released on Friday evening, has conceded others were with him and he lied to protect them “from being drawn into a situation”.
The statement came after the Daily Telegraph reported, external that Brook and two of his team-mates, Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue, could be subject to an investigation from the cricket regulator.
“I accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and acknowledge others were present that evening,” said Brook.
“I regret my previous comments and my intention was to protect my team-mates from being drawn into a situation that arose as a result of my own decisions.
“I have apologised and will continue to reflect on the matter. This has been a challenging period in my career, but one from which I am learning.
“I recognise I have more to learn regarding the off-field responsibilities that come with leadership and captaincy. I remain committed to developing in this area and to improving both personally and professionally.”
Brook was placed in charge of England’s white-ball teams last summer and the tour of New Zealand was his first overseas as captain.
The 26-year-old was involved in the altercation the night before the third one-day international in Wellington on 1 November – a game England lost.
He was fined and given a final warning over his conduct, though the incident and punishment only came to light more than two months later after the final Test against Australia in Sydney, at the end of a dismal series England lost 4-1.
In an interview with BBC Sport last week, Brook said he didn’t want to “go into any details” of the Wellington incident, but said it began with some players “going out for food”.
“There was no intention of going out, no intention of putting ourselves in a tricky situation,” he said.
“I took it upon myself to go out for a few more and I was on my own there. I shouldn’t have been there.
“I was trying to get into a club and the bouncer just clocked me, unfortunately. I wouldn’t say I was absolutely leathered. I’d had one too many drinks.”
The Telegraph report that the cricket regulator are preparing a report after receiving paperwork on Brook, Bethell and Tongue from the England and Wales Cricket Board last week.
The body, set-up in 2023 and headed-up by Chris Haward, a former chief constable of Lincolnshire police, has freedom to operate as it sees fit. It is able to fine or suspend players for disciplinary offences.
Brook’s statement is the latest act in a series of incidents involving drinking that dogged the England team through the New Zealand tour, the Ashes series that followed and its aftermath.
The drinking that took place on a mid-tour holiday in Noosa was particularly scrutinised, and Brook was one of the players pictured in the Queensland resort’s bars.
