England bowler Stuart Broad has revealed that he missed a sponsor's event last week because he was suffering with a migraine.

The 28-year-old was rumoured to have pulled out after a heavy drinking session with former teammate Matt Prior.

Broad has since apologised to the ECB, who have been in the headlines recently after newly-appointed director of England cricket Andrew Strauss ruled out an immediate return for outcast Kevin Pietersen.

"I don't want to go into massive detail about it but I think it was probably not as bad as it was portrayed, and I woke up with a migraine," The Independent quotes Broad as saying.

"I wasn't on England duty for the ECB but I did apologise for putting them in that position because after the week they've had with Strauss and Pietersen, it was probably not what they needed."

England are preparing for a Test series against New Zealand before they take on Australia in the Ashes.