England fast bowler Josh Tongue says he has “learned” from the New Zealand nightclub episode in which team-mate Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer.
Tongue was on a night out with England limited-overs skipper Brook and all-rounder Jacob Bethell in Wellington on 1 November, the evening before a one-day international, when the incident occurred.
Brook was fined and given a final warning over his conduct, though the matter only came to light more than two months after it happened and following the final Test of a dismal Ashes series which England lost 4-1.
Unlike Brook and Bethell, Tongue was not in England’s squad for the ODI against the Kiwis but had been training with the group to build up his bowling workload before the Ashes.
The trio are under investigation by the Cricket Regulator over the incident in the New Zealand capital.
Tongue, 28, told BBC Sport he was now keen to concentrate on matters on the pitch with the English domestic season set to get under way later this week.
“I’ve learned from it and I’m just trying to focus on the cricket now,” Tongue said.
“I’m just looking forward to the summer starting. We’re privileged to play for England and I can’t wait to step back on that pitch if selected.”
England’s players were widely criticised for their off-field behaviour during the Ashes, including claims of excessive drinking during a mid-series break in the coastal resort of Noosa.
Tongue said England’s players will now “try to move forward” from the Ashes fallout but felt some of the claims about the team’s off-field activities had been “been blown out of proportion”.
“When it comes to the training days, we train really hard,” said Tongue, who emerged with credit from the Ashes after he took 18 wickets in three Tests at 20.11.
“We’re human beings, and we feel like we need to get away from cricket as well, because obviously when you’re playing in front of 40,000, 60,000, or even 95,000 people, you’ve got to switch off from the game.”
Tongue said he had “no opinion” on recent comments made by Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone about the culture, and an apparent lack of care, within the England set-up.
And the Nottinghamshire quick gave his full backing to England head coach Brendon McCullum, who kept his job following a post-Ashes review.
“I’m really happy that Baz [McCullum] is staying as head coach. I get on really well with Baz and he gives me a lot of confidence,” Tongue said.
“One of the best things he gives is he helps you to be as high [confidence wise] as you can be before stepping onto that pitch.
“That’s how you’re going to perform at your best – it helps me a lot.”
‘Want to play all three formats’
Tongue was named in England’s squad for the T20 World Cup but did not make an appearance in the tournament.
Despite carrying the drinks in India and Sri Lanka, Tongue, who was the leading wicket-taker in The Hundred last year, was not frustrated by his lack of game time.
“It was an incredible experience. Obviously, we had the Sri Lanka series beforehand and then leading into the World Cup,” Tongue explained.
“I wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t play. I think just to be there in that environment, bowling at the likes of Jos Buttler and Harry Brook in the nets, you’re going to learn so much.
“I feel like training there has brought my white-ball game further along and I just want to know how to put that into a game.”
England play three Tests against both New Zealand and Pakistan this summer as well as white-ball series against India and Sri Lanka.
Tongue was awarded a two-year central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board in November, primarily as a reward for his performances in the Test team.
However, he is keen to force his way into England’s T20 and ODI squads over the next six months.
“I want to play all three formats for England,” Tongue added.
“I’ve ticked off the Test stuff and I really enjoy Test match cricket, but I also want to have the white-ball stuff behind me as well.
“I feel like this summer’s going to be a good taste of that.
