'I'm extremely sorry': England captain Harry Brook apologises for New Zealand nightclub incident; accepts fault

England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook has admitted that his involvement in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand was a mistake and said he has learnt from the episode.The 26-year-old was fined £30,000 ($40,000) by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the incident in Wellington on the eve of a one-day international. England went on to lose that match, with Brook scoring six."I've learnt from my mistakes," Brook told reporters in Colombo, where England are set to face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series starting Thursday."I've reflected a lot and I know it wasn't the right thing to do," he said, speaking publicly for the first time about the incident during the tour that came before the Ashes, which England lost 4-1."I want to apologise to my team-mates, the fans and the ECB for putting them in a tricky situation," said Brook, who is due to lead England at next month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka."It will never happen again. I'm extremely sorry."England’s Ashes tour was marked by off-field scrutiny, with questions raised about preparation, team selection and a reported "drinking culture" within the squad. Players were seen spending long hours in bars during a mid-series break at a beach resort, and a video involving an apparently drunk Ben Duckett circulated on social media.

The ODI series in Sri Lanka will be followed by three T20 internationals, which will serve as England’s final preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup that begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.Brook said the upcoming series would be an important test for his team as they look to regain form."It's important to get used to the conditions, the climate and the heat," Brook said. "We are looking forward to a competitive series."England’s white-ball results have dipped since the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where the defending champions failed to reach the semi-finals. Since then, they have lost six of their last seven bilateral series and exited the Champions Trophy after losing all three group matches."We would like to be a little more consistent, absorb pressure and stay in the game for longer periods," Brook said."Yes, we've lost a few series, but I feel we're heading in the right direction".Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are dealing with selection concerns ahead of co-hosting the World Cup. Charith Asalanka, who was removed as T20 captain late last year, continues to lead the ODI side.Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been rested for the series, while leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga’s availability remains unclear."I would have liked to have both in the team," Asalanka said."But we have to look at the bigger picture, which is the World Cup. We haven't made a final call on Hasaranga yet."