Harry Brook received the largest possible financial penalty and a final warning over his conduct after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand, the England white-ball captain has revealed.
The incident occurred in the hours before England’s third and final one-day international defeat to the Black Caps in Wellington in October. Brook was refused entry to the venue after the bouncer suspected he was drunk, with a row ensuing that resulted in the cricketer being struck.
Brook, 26, self-reported the matter to team management. He has now admitted he expected to lose the captaincy as a consequence.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “It was definitely playing through my mind.”
When asked whether he had considered resigning, Brook said he had left the decision to the hierarchy and would have accepted being removed from the role provided he could continue playing for England.
The Yorkshire batsman described the episode as a “terrible mistake” and acknowledged he needed to regain the trust of team-mates and supporters.
He said he was “extremely sorry” to fans and pledged to conduct himself more professionally away from the game for the remainder of his career.
The incident emerged after England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, a seven-week tour marked by multiple drinking-related incidents. Video footage surfaced during a six-day mid-series break in Noosa showing Ben Duckett appearing uncertain of his whereabouts late at night. Reports also indicated high alcohol consumption among players during the Perth leg of the tour, where the squad stayed in a casino complex hotel.
Brook maintained the off-field matters had not affected his performances, though he conceded he had not scored as he would have liked during the Ashes.
