Top News

England's cricketers have been given a curfew during the upcoming T20 World Cup after embarrassing stories emerged in New Zealand and Australia. The last two tours have been unsuccessful on the pitch and there has been added scrutiny due to alcohol-fuelled off-the-pitch incidents.

England were beaten 3-0 in the One-Day International series in New Zealand that preceded the Ashes, where they were thrashed 4-1 in shambolic fashion. The Ashes disappointment contained a boozy trip to Noosa mid-series, where questions were raised about the team's behaviour, before an even more damaging story became public knowledge.

After defeat in Sydney, Test vice-captain Harry Brook was forced to issue a grovelling apology for getting into a drunken altercation with a bouncer outside a nightclub the day before an ODI in New Zealand. And the England and Wales Cricket Board has decided to take action ahead of back-to-back white-ball series against Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup.

The Daily Mail reports that the players will be reminded of their responsibilities to represent the team well in public, while they will have to report back to the team hotel before midnight. England's white-ball team fly out to Colombo on Sunday to play three ODIs and T20s against Sri Lanka before starting the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February.

• Harry Brook apologises after drunk cricket star hit by nightclub bouncer and fined

• Inside Shane Warne's relationship with Liz Hurley as actress still reeling from his death

England's six-day mid-Ashes break in Noosa was compared to a stag do by some onlookers, with a video of a drunk Ben Duckett going viral. Then, after the 4-1 scoreline was confirmed, it emerged that Brook had been fined for an incident in Wellington in October.

"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, who will captain England at the T20 World Cup, said in a statement.

"Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously and I am deeply sorry for letting down my team-mates, 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."

ECB director of cricket Rob Key is among those under huge pressure following the Ashes. He has previously dismissed concerns about the drinking culture of the side. "Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol for an international cricket team is not something that I’d expect to see at any stage," Key said midway through the Ashes in December.

“Harry Brook is going to spend six days at home this entire winter. Jofra Archer will go through to the World Cup and the Indian Premier League. So I think it’s so important that these players, especially multi-format players, can get away and live a normal life. [But] if it goes into where they’re drinking lots and it’s a stag do, that’s completely unacceptable.

“I think a drinking culture doesn’t help anyone in any stretch whatsoever. [But] I have no issue with Noosa if it was to get away and just throw your phone away, down tools, go on the beach, all of that stuff.”

ECB chief executive Richard Gould launched a review after the Ashes, which promised to focus on "tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours, and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require."