Joe Root has made it clear that under his leadership there will be no curfew imposed on the England Test side, urging his teammates to act like "grown adults" as they prepare for the upcoming series against Pakistan. The decision marks a shift from the stricter protocols that were introduced after a series of alcohol‑related incidents that plagued the team following the overseas Ashes tour in late 2025. During that turbulent period, both Ben Stokes and the promising fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped from the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval in June after they breached a team curfew and were involved in a nightclub episode. The fallout was severe: Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test, a move that saw both he and Atkinson return to the fold later on.
In response to the incidents, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a set of enhanced player‑behaviour guidelines in July, signed off by ECB managing director Rob Key. The new rules stipulated a midnight curfew, a ban on appearing in public while under the influence of alcohol, and a requirement that any player leaving the team hotel before 10 pm must inform management.
While those measures were intended to restore discipline, Root appears to be taking a more nuanced approach. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Root said, "There's not going to be a curfew.
I don't think this needs to be a big deal, to be honest." He elaborated that he believes curfews are ineffective and that true responsibility comes from allowing players to make mature decisions on and off the field. "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 explained.
Root emphasised that the responsibility for maintaining standards now lies with the players themselves and the leadership team, which includes new head coach Stephen Fleming. "That's for us as a team to manage well, and police well for me and [new head coach] Stephen Fleming," he said. He added that the team should be recognised for its on‑field performances rather than off‑field controversies, hoping England will be featured for cricketing achievements rather than tabloid headlines.
He continued, "Be adults, look after yourselves, look after each other. We need to create a good, strong culture where you know when the right time is to celebrate and enjoy a win or to have a sensible beer, but remember—you've got to play for England." Root wants players to feel they can celebrate victories responsibly, noting, "I don't want people to feel like they can't enjoy winning a Test match because they want to have a beer or at the right time let their hair down and then that's absolutely fine. We're human beings at the end of the day." He reminded the squad of their professional obligations, saying, "You know what your responsibilities are, you know how you need to prepare for a Test match and what it takes, and the effects that these things can have on you.
So be smart, be sensible, and just be an adult." The ECB, when asked for comment, said it respects the captain and coach's approach, stating that the curfew would be lifted and that clear expectations would be communicated for the upcoming series. Despite the controversy surrounding Stokes' departure, Root did not rule out a potential Ashes comeback for the former captain. When asked whether he would welcome Stokes back, Root replied, "I don't know – let's get there first," indicating that performance and team harmony will dictate any future selections.
Root also expressed disappointment at the exit of former head coach Brendon McCullum, who had been serving as interim Test coach during the New Zealand series. "I was gutted when I found out Brendon was no longer going to be the Test coach," Root admitted. He praised McCullum's influence on his own game, saying the New Zealand legend helped him view cricket from a different perspective and that he owes a great deal to him. While McCullum remains the white‑ball head coach, Stephen Fleming, a former New Zealand teammate of Root, has taken over the Test coaching duties.
Root spoke highly of Fleming, noting his admiration for Fleming's captaincy style and his successful record in T20 coaching, and expressed excitement about working together. Root also reflected on his first tenure as Test captain, acknowledging criticism for over‑bowling Jofra Archer during the 2019 New Zealand tour, where Archer bowled 42 overs in his maiden overseas Test.
That heavy workload preceded a long injury spell that kept Archer out of Test cricket for four years. Root said he has learned from that mistake and will manage Archer more judiciously this time around. "I think at times maybe I did over‑bowl him and over‑use him.
The attack that he works with now complements him really well," he said, adding that there are now other bowlers who can share the workload. He praised Archer as a generational talent, confident that Archer will continue to deliver across formats. "He's going to produce wonderful things for England. In Test cricket, he's capable of doing some wonderful things.
I didn't get everything right the first time around, but I'm very excited to work with him again," Root affirmed. Root also spoke candidly about the weight of his previous captaincy spell and how it has shaped his current mindset. He acknowledged that public opinion will inevitably compare his current approach with his earlier tenure, but he insists he is a different player now, more mature and wiser. "The hardest thing for me will be people's opinion of how I captained four years ago.
I think it's very important to remember, and for me to remember more than anything, I'm a completely different player from what I was four years ago," he said. He stressed the importance of learning from past mistakes, stating, "When you make mistakes and when you get things wrong, you look at yourself and you know you don't want to make that mistake again.
You learn from it and you deal with it for the next time around. That shouldn't be a hindrance.
I hope people see it as a massive upside to getting the chance to do it again." The England team will commence a three‑Test series against Pakistan on August 19, with matches broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket and streaming options available via NOW. Root's relaxed yet accountable stance on curfews and player conduct signals a cultural shift aimed at fostering responsibility, enjoyment, and high performance without the heavy hand of strict regulations. The cricketing world will be watching to see whether this approach yields on‑field success and restores the team's reputation after a period of off‑field turbulence.