England's Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell cautioned for Wellington nightclub incident in lead-up to 2025/26 men's Ashes series
Published 01/04/2026 at 21:05 GMT+1
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The Cricket Regulator has issued England’s Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell with a caution notice for breaching player conduct rules during last year’s tour of New Zealand. The pair were on a night out in Wellington with team-mate Josh Tongue on the eve of the final one-day international against the Black Caps on November 1 when Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer.
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England’s Harry Book and Jacob Bethell have been cautioned following an investigation into their off-field conduct during last year’s tour of New Zealand.
The England squad took on the Black Caps in three one-day internationals and three T20 matches across October and November in preparation for the 2025/26 Ashes.
New Zealand won the ODI series 3-0, while England claimed victory in the only T20 clash that could be completed due to rain.
And while performances on the field were a concern with the five-Test series against Australia fast approaching, behaviour off the field also came into focus during a disappointing Ashes which England lost 4-1.
It came to light after the final Test in Australia that Brook, Bethell and Josh Tongue had been on a night out in Wellington on the eve of the third and final ODI against New Zealand on November 1 and that Brook, England’s white-ball captain, had been punched by a bouncer outside a nightclub.
Brook received a warning and a £30,000 fine for his transgression and publicly apologised for his actions, but he also lied about being the only player involved.
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The incident caused the Cricket Regulator, an independent body outside of the remit of the ECB, to open an investigation into the matter, which has now concluded.
For their part in the incident, Brook and Bethell have been issued with a caution notice for breaching player conduct rules, while no action has been taken against Tongue.
Tongue was in New Zealand with England but was not in the squad for the ODI clash on November 1.
A statement read: ”The Cricket Regulator has now concluded its investigations into the events that took place in Wellington on the night of 31 October and 1 November 2025 prior to the third men's one-day international match against New Zealand.
”As a consequence of those investigations, the Regulator has issued a caution notice to Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell in relation to their conduct during that night which both players accept was in breach of regulation 3.2 of the professional conduct regulations 2025. No further action is to be taken by the Regulator in relation to Josh Tongue.”
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Asked at the time if he understood the anger of England supporters, Brook told BBC Sport: ”Definitely. They have every right to be annoyed. I've made a terrible mistake.
”I've put myself in a situation which I shouldn't have done. Did it affect my cricket? I don't think so. I'd have still played the same way. Obviously, I didn't get a score that I'd have liked, but I still played the same way.
”I'm extremely sorry to all the supporters for what I did in New Zealand. I've got to try and regain their trust again in my ability, in my cricket on the field and off the field.
”I'm hoping that they can expect I'll be slightly different away from the game. I'll be more professional.
”That's what I've got to do now for the rest of my career, hopefully. I just want to be back playing as good cricket as I possibly can be.”
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