Joe Root abolishes England Test team’s midnight curfew
Joe Root, the new captain of the England Test team, has lifted the midnight curfew previously imposed on the squad. This decision comes as Root begins his second tenure as captain, with the aim of encouraging players to take personal responsibility for their conduct. The curfew, which had been in place for the England men’s teams, was initially introduced following a series of late-night incidents.
The curfew was first implemented in January after several behavioural issues emerged during tours of New Zealand and Australia. Notably, an altercation involving Harry Brook with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington occurred on the eve of a one-day international. Brook later acknowledged he was fortunate to retain his position as white-ball captain following the incident.
Curfew History and Player Incidents
The concept of a curfew for England players is not new. It was first introduced during Root’s initial captaincy spell between 2017 and 2022, specifically after drinking incidents during the 2017-18 Ashes tour. That curfew was subsequently abolished when Ben Stokes took over as captain in 2022, only to be reinstated earlier this year.
Despite its reintroduction, the curfew continued to be a point of contention and confusion. Following a victory against New Zealand at Lord’s, former Test captain Ben Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson broke the curfew. This incident led to their suspension from the second Test against New Zealand in June. Stokes returned for the series closer before announcing his retirement from international cricket, which paved the way for Root’s return to captaincy.
The guidelines surrounding player behaviour have been under scrutiny throughout the year. There was admitted “ambiguity” regarding the communication of the curfew, as stated by then-Test coach Brendon McCullum. New guidelines on the curfew and alcohol consumption were issued to players last month, with recommendations against drinking in public and strong discouragement from drinking in private during match periods.
Root’s Rationale and Team Culture
Speaking to Sky Sports, Root articulated his reasoning for abolishing the curfew, stating, “I don’t think they work.” He emphasised the importance of players acting as adults and making responsible decisions off the field, believing this fosters greater responsibility on the field as well. “If you want guys to take responsibility on the field they’ve got to feel like they can be grown adults off it and make good, strong decisions,” Root explained.
The relaxation of rules also extends to the white-ball sides, despite no change in the leadership of the one-day and T20 teams, which are led by coach McCullum and captain Harry Brook. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the change, noting that the new Test captain and coach are focused on setting team standards and culture, and that players will have a clear understanding of expectations for the upcoming series.
Root stressed the need for the team to self-police and manage their conduct effectively, in collaboration with the new red-ball head coach, Stephen Fleming. Fleming, a fellow New Zealander, replaces McCullum as Test coach, although Marcus Trescothick will act as interim coach for the three matches against Pakistan. Root highlighted that players know what it takes to play for England and understand their responsibilities off the field.
The captain expressed a desire for the team to be known for their performance on the field. “We should be known for how we play our cricket and what we do on the field. We should be on the back page of papers,” Root commented. He encouraged players to look after themselves and each other, fostering a culture where they recognise the appropriate times to celebrate and enjoy a win, or to have a sensible drink, while always remembering they represent England.
This decision marks another shift in the behavioural regulations for the England men’s teams, which have seen a curfew introduced, broken, debated, clarified, and now scrapped within the current year alone. Root will lead England in the upcoming series against Pakistan, which is scheduled to start next week at Headingley.
Source: theguardian.com
