Nasser Hussain praised England’s new Test leader Joe Root for scrapping the team curfew, calling the move a sign of maturity, but he also warned that the returning skipper sometimes seems to lack the intuitive grasp of the game that his predecessor Ben Stokes displayed. Root has now captained England a record 65 times, most recently in the second Test loss to New Zealand earlier this summer – a match that came after Stokes and Gus Atkinson were suspended for breaching a curfew that had been introduced in the wake of the 4‑1 Ashes defeat in the winter months.
During the latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain described Root’s decision to eliminate the curfew ahead of the three‑Test series against Pakistan as "a grown‑up decision". He argued that imposing a curfew is a sign of a loss of control rather than authority. "If you need a curfew you’ve already lost the respect of your players," Hussain said. "Treat them as adults – if they misbehave, fine them first, and if the problem persists, leave them out of the side.
A professional outfit shouldn’t have to police its own members with a bedtime rule; it only shows how badly things had slipped before the rule was introduced." Hussain went on to express his satisfaction that Root had taken a firm stand: "I’m really pleased that Joe has said ‘no, enough of that nonsense’.” The immediate challenge for Root is to rejuvenate an England side that has now lost eight of its last thirteen Tests, a slump that followed a 2‑1 series defeat to New Zealand that effectively ended the so‑called ‘Bazball’ era and coincided with Ben Stokes’s retirement from international cricket. Root’s first full‑time stint as England captain also ended in a barren spell – only one victory in his final seventeen Tests before he stepped down in 2022. Hussain recalled a recent episode at The Oval during the second Test against New Zealand, describing it as a "big hospital pass" for Root.
"It was very recent, not four years ago, and it reminded me of some of the moments when Joe seemed to lose the feel for the game," Hussain said. He added that in that match Root appeared to be trying too hard to emulate Stokes, attempting to drive on a bouncy Oval pitch where the ball was staying low.
"He didn’t have the feel of the game in that situation," Hussain noted, contrasting it with Stokes’s natural instinct and awareness. While Hussain praised Root’s willingness to lead, he also hinted that he might have looked to Harry Brook as an alternative. "Brook has an aura and a genuine feel for the game, especially in white‑ball cricket," he said. "I understand the scheduling pressures, but Brook’s temperament could have suited the role." Brook, despite being named vice‑captain, was passed over for the Test captaincy in that Oval match.
His extensive experience as the white‑ball captain may have made the selectors hesitant to overload the 27‑year‑old with the permanent Test job, especially after his publicised clash with a nightclub bouncer before an ODI against New Zealand last winter, which attracted considerable criticism. Former England captain Michael Atherton, who recently interviewed Root, asked the new skipper whether his decision to stay on was driven by duty or genuine desire. "There’s really nobody else at the moment," Atherton explained.
"If you don’t want Harry Brook to carry the burden across three formats, the board looks to Joe. I sense he’s genuinely excited about the opportunity and feels he has some ammunition, particularly with his fast‑bowling resources." Atherton also highlighted Root’s measured approach to the legacy of Bazball.
"He continues to speak highly of Brendon McCullum and acknowledges McCullum’s influence on his batting and the team, even though that partnership ended poorly. He’s careful not to discard everything that worked under the previous regime. Instead, he wants to retain the successful elements of Bazball while putting his own stamp on it. The most important thing he said was that he won’t force a predetermined style on the side," Atherton said.
In the squad for the upcoming series, Essex batsman Jordan Cox will slot in at number three for the first two Tests, replacing the injured Jacob Bethell. Cox’s only other Test appearance came at number six in the second Test loss to New Zealand at The Oval, where he made 27 and 25 in his two innings. Cox and Root have become better acquainted through their time together at Welsh Fire in The Hundred, giving Cox a unique perspective on the captain’s personality. "I’ve spent about three and a half weeks with Joe in The Hundred, and we’ve built a good rapport.
Getting to bat together in the nets, chatting about cricket and life, has been fantastic," Cox said. "Test cricket is the pinnacle, and while The Hundred finished just last night, we had a bit more time after our matches ended early, which allowed us to train and prepare for the upcoming Test." The three‑Test series against Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from August 19, and fans can stream the action without a contract via NOW. As England seeks to reverse its recent fortunes, the debate surrounding Root’s leadership will continue.
Is his decision to drop the curfew a sign of modern, player‑centred management that will foster responsibility and cohesion? Or does his occasional lack of instinctual game awareness suggest that England might benefit from a captain with a more innate feel for the ebb and flow of Test cricket, like the late Ben Stokes or the emerging Harry Brook? Only the results on the field will provide the final answer, but the conversation has already highlighted the delicate balance between authority, maturity, and intuitive cricketing sense that any England captain must navigate.