England white-ball captain Harry Brook admitted on Friday to lying to protect teammates who were with him when he was hit by a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand.
Brook originally said this month he was alone when he tried to enter the nightclub in Wellington on October 31, the day before the third and last One Day International against New Zealand.
But after The Telegraph reported on Friday that teammates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue were fined for their involvement and were being investigated by the cricket regulator, Brook confessed that he was not alone in a statement released after England beat Sri Lanka in a T20I.
“I accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and acknowledge that others were present that evening,” Brook said.
“I regret my previous comments, and my intention was to protect my teammates 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.”
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Brook was fined and given a final warning over his conduct for the Wellington incident. But the episode wasn’t made public until this month after the Ashes series, which England lost 1-4 in Australia.
Brook apologised at the time to teammates and supporters, and again before the ongoing Sri Lanka tour.
The England and Wales Cricket Board was reviewing incidents involving England cricketers drinking on tour in New Zealand and Australia, which have prompted a midnight curfew for the players while in the subcontinent.
Published on Jan 31, 2026