England Cricket Team Ditches Midnight Curfew
Captain Joe Root abolishes rule, saying 'I don't think they work', as team prepares for Pakistan Test series
England's Test captain Joe Root has abolished the midnight curfew imposed on the team, telling players to 'be adults' and make responsible decisions off the field. The curfew was introduced in January after a series of late-night incidents on the tours of New Zealand and Australia.
The decision to lift the curfew comes ahead of England's three-Test series against Pakistan, starting next Wednesday. Root's move marks a shift in approach, as he believes that curfews do not work and that players should be treated as adults. In an interview with Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Root said: 'My view on curfews is that I don’t think they work'.
The curfew has also been lifted for the white-ball team, despite no change in the leadership of the one-day and T20 sides. The limited-overs sides will no longer have to abide by the midnight rule, effective immediately. This decision is part of Root's effort to 'create a good strong culture' within the team, where players are encouraged to make responsible decisions off the field.
The first Test against Pakistan is scheduled to start on August 19. England's team has undergone some changes, with Brendon McCullum being replaced as Test coach by Stephen Fleming, although Fleming will not be in place for the Pakistan series. Marcus Trescothick will act as the interim coach for the three matches.
## Context The midnight curfew was first introduced during Root's first spell as Test captain, between 2017 and 2022, after drinking incidents on the Ashes tour of 2017-18. It was abolished when Ben Stokes took over as captain in 2022, only to be reintroduced earlier this year. The curfew has been a topic of discussion within the team, with some players breaking the rule, including Stokes, who broke the curfew in a nightclub in London, leading to his retirement from international cricket.
