Former England batsman Nasser Hussain praised new Test captain Joe Root for scrapping the team curfew, but he also expressed concern that the returning leader sometimes lacks the intuitive feel for the game that his predecessor Ben Stokes possessed. Root, who has now led England on a record 65 occasions, most recently in the second Test loss to New Zealand earlier this summer, stepped in after Stokes and Gus Atkinson were suspended for breaching a curfew that had been introduced following the 4‑1 Ashes defeat in the winter. "It’s simply a grown‑up decision, isn’t it?" Hussain remarked on the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast when discussing Root’s move to eliminate the curfew ahead of the three‑Test series against Pakistan, which began on Wednesday on Sky Sports. "If you enforce a curfew you’ve already lost control of the squad.
There’s nothing constructive about a curfew because inevitably someone will break it. Treat your players like adults – if they behave like children, fine them first and then consider dropping them.
A professional outfit shouldn’t need a curfew; the fact that one was ever imposed shows how badly the environment had deteriorated." Hussain added, "I’m really pleased that Joe has said ‘no, enough of that nonsense.’" The immediate challenge for Root is to revive an England side that has lost eight of its last thirteen Tests, a slump that followed a 2‑1 series defeat to New Zealand which marked the end of the ‘Bazball’ era and also saw the international retirement of Ben Stokes. Root’s first permanent spell as captain ended in a similarly barren run – only one victory in his final seventeen Tests before he stepped down in 2022. Hussain reflected on that period, saying, "He was given the biggest of hospital passes for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval – that was very recent, not four years ago – and it brought back memories of Joe as a captain.
For a player of his calibre, who normally has a great sense of the game’s tempo, he seemed to lack that feel on that occasion. He appeared to be trying too hard to emulate Stokes, pushing his men forward on a bouncy Oval pitch where the ball was moving behind them." "He doesn’t quite have the feel of the game," Hussain continued, "and that’s what I liked about Stokes’ captaincy – he had an innate feel for the flow of a match.
I’m pleased he’s back, although I might have leaned more towards Harry Brook. In white‑ball cricket Brook shows a real feel for the game, an aura that suggests he could translate that instinct to the longer format. Of course, the demanding schedule adds its own complications." Brook, despite serving as vice‑captain, was overlooked for the Test role in that second New Zealand match at The Oval. His extensive experience as England’s white‑ball captain may have made the selectors wary of over‑loading the 27‑year‑old with a permanent Test appointment, especially after his publicised confrontation with a nightclub bouncer before an ODI last winter, which attracted heavy criticism.
Michael Atherton, who recently interviewed Root, asked a pointed question: "I put to Root, ‘are you doing this out of duty or genuine desire?’" Root answered that duty played a part because there were few alternatives – "once they don’t want Harry Brook to do it across three formats, who else is left?" Yet he also conveyed genuine excitement about the opportunity. He believes his fast‑bowling resources give him ammunition to shape the side, and he strives to balance loyalty to the past with his own vision. Root spoke highly of former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, acknowledging him as a valuable mentor for both his own batting and the team, even though the partnership ended poorly. He was careful not to promise a wholesale overhaul, saying he wants to retain the successful elements of Bazball while imprinting his own stamp.
"The most important thing I said is that I won’t try to impose a predetermined style on the team," he explained. Hussain’s critique underscores a broader debate within English cricket: whether a captain should be a strict disciplinarian or a more flexible, player‑centred leader. The curfew debate is emblematic of that tension.
While some argue that rules like a curfew maintain professionalism and team cohesion, others, like Hussain, contend that treating adults as adults fosters responsibility and that punitive measures only become necessary when misconduct occurs. The upcoming three‑Test series against Pakistan offers Root a chance to test his philosophy in practice. If England can rediscover the aggressive, free‑flowing mindset that defined Bazball while integrating Root’s more measured approach, the side could reverse its recent slide. Conversely, if the team continues to struggle for direction, questions about Root’s instinctual grasp of match dynamics may intensify.
Beyond the tactical aspects, the curfew decision may have cultural implications for the dressing‑room. By signalling trust, Root could strengthen player morale, encouraging senior members to take ownership of their conduct. However, the risk remains that without clear boundaries, discipline could slip, potentially eroding the standards that have been built over years of professional cricket.
In summary, while Nasser Hussain applauds Joe Root’s mature stance on removing the curfew, he remains cautious about the captain’s overall feel for the game. Root’s challenge is twofold: to guide England back to winning ways in the Test arena and to demonstrate that his leadership style—rooted in adult‑to‑adult respect—can coexist with the instinctive, aggressive cricket that fans have come to expect. The Pakistan series will be the first real test of whether his approach can deliver both discipline and the intuitive spark that defines great captaincy.