Joe Root, the new England Test captain, has decided to abolish the midnight curfew rule for players. This measure, which was previously in force, will no longer be applied to the white-ball team or the limited-overs sides. Root told Sky Sports that players will no longer be subject to this restriction and that he does not consider it a major issue.
The midnight curfew was initially introduced during Root’s first stint as captain, which lasted from 2017 to 2022. The decision at the time followed a series of incidents linked to alcohol consumption on the 2017 and 2018 Ashes tour. The measure was further tightened over the winter following a series of late-night issues on tours to New Zealand and Australia.
The situation changed when Ben Stokes took over the captaincy in 2022, at which point the rule was scrapped. However, Stokes later breached his own rule when he visited a nightclub in London after the first Test of the domestic summer, which England won against New Zealand. That breach set off a chain of events that ultimately led to his withdrawal from international cricket.
Root will begin his second term as captain next week, with his first Test match under his leadership against Pakistan at Headingley. Before the series begins, Root urged his team to take responsibility: "Let's be adults". Although the rule has been abolished for the Test side, there has been no change in the leadership of the one-day and T20 teams.
The limited-overs sides remain under the guidance of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook. The midnight curfew restrictions no longer apply to these teams either, bringing this controversial chapter in English cricket to a close.
