Mirror Cricket

Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell have been handed a caution by the Cricket Regulator for their involvement in the infamous Wellington nightclub incident in November. Telegraph Sport revealed in the wake of England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat that Brook had been heavily fined and placed on a final warning after he admitted being punched by a bouncer at a nightclub just hours before captaining the team in the third ODI in Wellington. England lost the series in New Zealand 3-0. Brook initially said he was alone, but Telegraph Sport revealed that Bethell and Josh Tongue were also out with him. Bethell also played in the match, while Tongue was not part of the squad – the latter was only in New Zealand to tune up for the Ashes. Despite the matter being handled by team management at the time, the Cricket Regulator – which handles disciplinary matters in the game – still chose to investigate it after it became public, some months after a line appeared to be drawn under it. After interviewing all three players, it released a statement on Wednesday. It read: “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.” Regulation 3.2 relates to conduct which is “prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute”. The Regulator did not issue any further documentation on its judgment or investigation, but the players have not been fined for a second time. Brook came close to losing England’s white-ball captaincy over the Wellington incident, and was forced to apologise, first for the matter itself, then for lying to protect his team-mates. But he enjoyed a positive first Twenty20 World Cup as captain in India and Sri Lanka after the controversy, with the team eventually being knocked out by India, the holders, hosts and eventual champions.