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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has launched a fierce attack on Harry Brook and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following Brook’s admission of involvement in a late-night altercation with a nightclub bouncer during England’s tour of New Zealand. While Brook issued a public apology and was fined £30,000, Vaughan believes the punishment fell well short of what was required.
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The incident, first reported by The Telegraph, occurred on October 31, just a day before the third ODI in Wellington. Despite the off-field controversy, Brook was allowed to play the match, a decision that Vaughan feels reflects a growing lack of discipline within the England setup.
Michael Vaughan slams ECB’s ‘soft’ handling of Brook incident
Speaking to Fox Cricket, Vaughan accused the ECB of attempting to downplay the incident and questioned the board’s standards when it comes to player discipline. He linked the handling of the situation to England’s recent struggles abroad, particularly during the Ashes.
“The ECB pushed it under the carpet. They said they threw the kitchen sink at it with a fine, but it’s only come out now, after a poor Ashes series where preparation has been a major talking point. The loose nature of how things are handled is worrying,” Vaughan said.
Vaughan argued that the ECB missed an opportunity to send a clear message by not suspending Brook, insisting that immediate action was crucial in such cases.
“In my experience, you have to deal with these things at the time they happen. Once it comes out later, everyone asks why it was brushed aside. The England captain had a fracas with a bouncer the night before a game and still played. That can’t be right. He should have been suspended for that match and dealt with there and then,” he added.
Vaughan contrasts Brook episode with Noosa controversy
Vaughan, however, adopted a more measured tone when discussing the reported Noosa drinking incident during the 2025–26 Ashes tour, suggesting the two situations were not directly comparable.
“I didn’t have a problem with Noosa. What I do have a problem with is Noosa coming after something in New Zealand that we didn’t know about. That’s where the concern lies,” Vaughan explained.
He concluded by raising broader questions about transparency within the England camp. “When I hear things like this, I always think, what else don’t we know?”
Why Harry Brook was punished by the ECB
According to reports, Brook was denied entry to a nightclub in Wellington after a bouncer believed he was heavily intoxicated. The situation escalated into a heated exchange, during which Brook allegedly struck the bouncer.
Brook, who serves as England’s Test vice-captain, later self-reported the incident to team security staff. He did not suffer any injuries and faced no suspension, retaining his place in England’s white-ball setup despite the controversy.
