Former England captain Michael Vaughan has opened up on reports of an altercation with a bouncer at Harry Brook’s nightclub a night before captaining the side in an ODI against New Zealand. Vaughan said he was not shocked by the news, claiming that England players have operated in a relaxed environment for some time.
According to The Telegraph, the situation unfolded in Wellington shortly before England’s third ODI against New Zealand. Brooke was refused entry to a nightclub because staff thought she was drunk, and the subsequent refusal led to a brief confrontation with a bouncer. However, Brook led the team in the match.
It doesn’t surprise me – Michael Vaughan on Harry Brook controversy
Michael Vaughan said he has no problem with the team’s break in Noosa, but considering what happened in New Zealand, the situation looks different. Vaughan said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) gave permission to Brook to captain the team the next day.
Michael Vaughn said, “It doesn’t surprise me. They’ve been pretty lax for quite some time. And I think, you know, regardless of the consequences of shots played during the last three years, there haven’t been any.”
He added, “And now obviously the lax nature of this environment. The Noosa trip was fine for me, but as we know the Noosa trip happened in New Zealand. You have to point the finger at the leadership group or the ECB, because if they knew, and then this incident happened to them, and then he played as captain of England the next day.”
“It doesn’t surprise me.”
Michael Vaughan reacted to the news that Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer the night before the ODI against New Zealand in which he was captaining the team. #bbcricket #ash pic.twitter.com/VBYcn3ej9X
– Test Match Special (@bbctms) 8 January 2026
They were clearly trying to cover it up – Michael Vaughn
Vaughan said that the senior leadership of the England and Wales Cricket Board should take responsibility. He said the issue was quietly pushed aside as the Ashes were approaching, adding that addressing it earlier would have attracted greater attention.
Vaughan said, “You have to say that the highest levels of management at the ECB have to look at themselves in the mirror, because they were clearly trying to sweep this under the carpet as the Ashes were coming. If they had dealt with it right then and there, it would have been a bigger story… but that’s out of the way.”
Brook scored 358 runs in 10 Ashes innings at an average of 39.77. England suffered a 4–1 series defeat in Australia.
The entire culture needs to change – Michael Vaughn
The cricketer-turned-commentator said the controversy has come at the worst time after earlier issues like England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat and the Noosa break. Vaughan said the team environment, overall culture and the role of the ECB all needed serious changes.
He concluded, “After the 4–1 defeat in Australia, it has now broken down because of the laxity of the players in terms of discipline with some of the strokes of what happened in Noosa. The whole culture around the team, the group and the ECB needs to change.”
They will now turn their focus to white-ball cricket as they travel to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and three T20 Internationals, starting with the ODI series on January 22.
These matches will serve as preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. England have been placed in Group C along with Nepal, West Indies, Bangladesh and Italy. They will begin their World Cup campaign against Nepal on February 8 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Also read: Harry Brook drunk, violent and out of control; Fined £30,000 and almost sacked after nightclub fight
