England captain Harry Brook lied about being alone when punched by a Wellington bouncer at the end of a Halloween night out.
Brook, 26, admitted his cover-up was designed to protect team-mates after it emerged that he was facing a further probe into what happened along with fellow international stars Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.
The Cricket Regulator is considering whether there is enough evidence to hit the trio with disrepute charges for their parts in the events that saw Brook, who is set to lead England into the Twenty20 World Cup next week, fined the maximum £30,000 and given a final warning over his conduct by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Brook previously said that he was unaccompanied in trying unsuccessfully to enter a night club hours before England’s final one-day international of a 3-0 whitewash by New Zealand.
However, in a statement released on Friday night, he said: ‘I accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and acknowledge that others were present that evening. 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,’ he said.
‘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.
Harry Brook has admitted lying about being alone on the night he was punched by a Wellington bouncer, with the England white ball captain now facing another investigation
Josh Tongue and Jacob Bethell are also being investigated by the Cricket Regulator, who is considering whether there is enough evidence to hit the trio with disrepute charges
‘I recognise that 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.’
The Daily Telegraph has reported that Bethell and Tongue were also hit in the pocket by the England management.
Brook came clean about his involvement to England coach Brendon McCullum during the loss at the Cake Tin.
Social media clips later emerged of the three players in question sat around a table on a roof top bar, but an England spokesperson insisted that they were indulging in a drink after dinner.
Daily Mail Sport has contacted the Cricket Regulator, the independent disciplinary body headed by director Chris Haward, a former chief constable of Lincolnshire Police, but it declined to comment.
Bethell, a centurion in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney earlier this month, featured in England’s two-wicket defeat in Wellington that began with half the side being dismissed for 44.
However, Nottinghamshire fast bowler Tongue was in New Zealand as a non-squad member, readying himself for facing Australia in Test cricket.
Under the regulator’s remit, individuals can be fined or suspended for maters relating to misconduct, corruption and discrimination.
The latest development comes amid an ECB review into the 4-1 Ashes defeat, and does not cast the England management including its team director Rob Key and the head coach Brendon McCullum in a good light.
Particularly, their authorising of a mid-series break for England’s Test squad in Noosa, doing so despite having taken action against Brook and others for alcohol-related misdemeanours.
The Noosa trip brought England’s alleged drinking culture to the fore, with some observers in the Queensland coastal town claiming it resembled a stag do.
