Brook and Bethell cautioned over conduct on NZ tour

Harry Brook (left, with Jacob Bethell) was placed in charge of England's white-ball teams last summer

• Published36 minutes ago

England white-ball captain Harry Brook and all-rounder Jacob Bethell have been reprimanded over their conduct on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes last year.

Brook, Bethell and fast bowler Josh Tongue were on a night out in Wellington in October, the evening before a one-day international on 1 November, when Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer.

The Cricket Regulator, which enforces the game's regulations, has concluded its investigation into the incident and has issued Brook and Bethell with a caution notice for breaching player conduct rules. It said no further action would be taken in relation to Tongue.

Unlike Brook and Bethell, Tongue was not in the squad for the ODI against New Zealand but had been training with the group in preparation for the Ashes, which England lost 4-1.

• Tongue has 'learned' from NZ nightclub episode

  • Published1 day ago

Brook was fined and given a final warning over his conduct following the incident. But that only came to light more than two months later, after the final Test against Australia in Sydney.

In January, 27-year-old Brook said supporters have "every right to be annoyed" with his behaviour as he issued a public apology.

But he also stated he was on his own when the bouncer "clocked " him and only later admitted other players had been present. He explained he had lied about that because he had been trying to protect his team-mates from further scrutiny.

It also emerged the Cricket Regulator was looking into the matter.

England's players were widely criticised for their off-field behaviour during the Ashes, including claims of excessive drinking during a mid-series break in the coastal resort of Noosa.

Tongue, 28, told BBC Sport earlier this week he had learned from what had happened in the New Zealand capital and is "just trying to focus on the cricket now".

During a meeting at Lord's to discuss the findings of a review of the tour last week, England's managing director Rob Key said there is not an "easy fix" to cricket's relationship with alcohol.

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