Former cricketer-turned-commentator Michael Vaughan didn’t find it surprising when he came to know that England’s white-ball captain and Test deputy Harry Brook was involved in a late-night brawl with a nightclub bouncer during the tour of New Zealand last year.

The incident, which took place prior to the Ashes, was reported by The Daily Telegraph soon after England conceded the five-Test 1-4 to Australia on Wednesday (January 8).

Brook, who was hit by the club’s bouncer after being declined entry to the club, apologised for “bringing embarrassment” on his team with the episode in New Zealand.

As per the report, Brook was penalized 30,000 pounds ($40,300) and given a final warning. He was not sacked as white-ball skipper, in fact, led England in the third ODI just hours after the incident.

Brook also served England as vice-captain on the tour of Australia, featuring five Ashes Test matches.

England’s dismal Ashes campaign Down Under has brought the off-field activities of players under scrutiny as well. They were accused of drinking heavily in Noosa during the break between second and third Ashes Tests.

“The incident doesn’t surprise me. They’ve (England team) been quite loose for a while. And I guess, you know, whether it’s consequences with shots that have been played over the course of the last three years, there hasn’t been one,” Vaughan told BBC.

“And now obviously the loose nature of this environment. The Noosa trip was fine for me, but the Noosa trip on the back of what we now know went on in New Zealand. You have to point the finger at the leadership group or the ECB, because if they knew, and then we had this incident, and then he played the next day as England captain,” he added.

Vaughan also questioned ECB’s senior leadership and called for responsibility. “You have to say that the highest level of management of the ECB have to look at themselves in the mirror, because they were clearly trying to brush that under the carpet because the Ashes were coming up. If they dealt with it there and then, it would have been a big story… but out the way,” he stated.

“For it now to have broken on the back of losing 4-1 in Australia, on the back of what happened in Noosa, on the looseness of the players in terms of their discipline with some of their strokes. The whole culture around the team, the group, and the ECB as well needs to change,” Vaughan remarked.

Harry Brook, who failed to live up to the expectations in the Ashes series as he amassed 358 runs in 10 innings without a century, has apologized for his altercation with the nightclub bouncer.

“I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team,” Brook was quoted as saying in a statement.

“Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously and I am deeply sorry for letting down my teammates, coaches and supporters. I have reflected on the lessons it has taught me about responsibility, professionalism and the standards expected of those representing your country. I am determined to learn from this mistake and to rebuild trust through my future actions, both on and off the field. I apologise unreservedly and will work hard to ensure this does not happen again.”

A statement from the ECB said: “We are aware of this incident and it has been dealt with through a formal and confidential ECB disciplinary process. The player involved has apologised and acknowledged their conduct fell below expectations on this occasion.”