Joe Root Abolishes England’s Midnight Curfew as He Returns as Test Captain

Joe Root has officially removed England’s midnight curfew, marking his first decision since resuming the role of Test captain ahead of a three-match series against Pakistan. Root argues that such restrictions are ineffective in fostering responsibility among players.

The change comes after Root took over the captaincy from Ben Stokes, who retired from international cricket following the New Zealand series earlier this summer. Stokes’ departure was partly linked to an incident where he and Gus Atkinson were out past curfew and involved in a nightclub altercation in Chelsea shortly after a Test win against Ireland.

The initial curfew had been instituted following a turbulent winter marked by unprofessional behavior, including an incident where Test vice-captain Harry Brook was assaulted by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington, New Zealand, leading to stricter team protocols.

Root stated on the Sky Sports cricket podcast, “There’s not going to be a curfew, and I don’t think this needs to be a big deal, to be honest. My view on curfews is I don’t think they work. 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.”

This decision is part of a broader shift in team culture, now under new Test head coach Stephen Fleming after Brendon McCullum was removed from his role. A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the removal of the curfew, emphasizing the need for players to understand their responsibilities both on and off the field.

England’s first Test against Pakistan is scheduled for August 19 at Headingley. Ahead of this match, three players from the 16-man squad—Shoaib Bashir, Emilio Gay, and Matt Fisher—are set to participate in a warm-up match starting Thursday.

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