England Players’ Off-Field Conduct in Australia Criticized Amid Allegations of “Drinking Culture”
LONDON: England white-ball captain Harry Brook and teammate Jacob Bethell have been formally warned over their conduct following a nightclub incident during England’s pre-Ashes tour of New Zealand last year.
The Cricket Regulator — an independent body responsible for enforcing player regulations separate from the England and Wales Cricket Board — issued cautions on Wednesday, confirming that both players breached professional conduct rules.
Brook had initially claimed he was alone during an altercation with a bouncer at a Wellington nightclub on the eve of a one-day international on November 1, an incident revealed two months later. He was fined £30,000 ($40,000) by the ECB and given a final warning.
He later admitted that Bethell and fast bowler Josh Tongue were present, stating he had lied to protect his teammates, and issued a public apology. Both Brook and Bethell played in the next-day ODI, which England lost by two wickets, completing a 3-0 series defeat. No action was taken against Tongue, who was not part of the ODI squad at the time.
A statement from the Regulator said: “A caution notice has been issued to Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell in relation to their conduct,” noting that both players accepted they had breached professional conduct regulations.
Despite the controversy, Brook retained the T20 World Cup captaincy, leading England to the semi-finals before losing to India in Mumbai.
England’s off-field behaviour in Australia during the 4-1 Ashes defeat also drew criticism, with allegations of poor preparation, muddled team selection, and a “drinking culture.” Players were seen spending hours in bars during a mid-series beach resort break, and a video of an apparently intoxicated Ben Duckett circulated on social media.
England Test captain Ben Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum, and director of men’s cricket Rob Key all retained their positions after an ECB review of the tour.
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