Root’s Stance on Player Conduct
Joe Root, in his return as England Test captain, has announced the removal of the midnight curfew for his players. He has encouraged the team to act as “grown adults” and take responsibility for their own behaviour, a stance he articulated ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan. This decision marks a shift from previous guidelines, which had been in place following a series of off-field incidents.
The curfew was initially imposed on England men’s teams after their Ashes defeat. Incidents during that period included Harry Brook’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer and the suspension of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson from a Test match against New Zealand for breaking curfew. Stokes later retired from international cricket, paving the way for Root’s return to captaincy.
Root expressed his view on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, stating, “My view on curfews is that I don’t think they work, and if you want guys to take responsibility on the field, they’ve got to feel like they can be grown adults and make good, strong decisions off it.” He emphasized that the team should be recognized for their on-field performance rather than off-field issues.
Evolution of Curfew Policies
The concept of a curfew has been a recurring theme for the England cricket team. Root himself made similar comments about player behaviour during his first stint as captain in 2017, ahead of an Ashes tour that saw various off-field incidents. The midnight curfew implemented during that tour lasted over four years, until its removal in 2022.
However, issues on a recent trip to Australia led to the reintroduction of the curfew in January. Despite new guidelines issued in July, which included the curfew and advice against drinking alcohol immediately before, during, or after a match, Root’s comeback as captain has seen these restrictions lifted. The relaxing of rules is also understood to apply to the white-ball teams.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) acknowledged the change, stating, “We have a Test captain and coach, who are looking at how they set team standards and culture. As part of this, the curfew will no longer be in place.”
Coaching Changes and Future Outlook
The decision to lift the curfew coincides with a change in the Test coaching staff. Brendon McCullum, who previously served as Test coach, was replaced by Stephen Fleming, a former New Zealand teammate. McCullum’s final act in charge of both Test and white-ball teams was to relax drinking guidelines for the England T20 side to celebrate a series win against India.
Root expressed his disappointment at McCullum’s departure from the Test coaching role, noting, “I was gutted when I found out Brendon was no longer going to be the Test coach. He’s someone that I feel has really got the best out of me personally.” McCullum remains the head coach for the white-ball team, while Root expressed admiration for Fleming’s coaching record, particularly in T20 cricket.
Looking ahead, Root also addressed past mistakes, particularly regarding the management of bowler Jofra Archer during his first captaincy. He vowed not to over-bowl Archer again, recognizing him as a “generational talent” crucial for England’s future across formats. The upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan will be Root’s first opportunity to lead the team under these new guidelines.
Source: bbc.com
