Former England batsman Nasser Hussain praised new Test captain Joe Root for his decision to eliminate the team curfew, but he also warned that the skipper sometimes seems to lack the intuitive feel for the game that his predecessor Ben Stokes possessed. Hussain’s comments came during the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, where he discussed Root’s recent policy change ahead of the three‑match series against Pakistan. Root has now led England on a record 65 occasions, a figure that includes the second‑Test loss to New Zealand earlier this summer.
That defeat came after Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson were suspended for breaching a curfew that had been introduced in the wake of England’s 4‑1 Ashes white‑ball series loss in the winter. The curfew was intended to enforce discipline, but many within the camp felt it was a heavy‑handed measure. "It’s simply a mature decision, isn’t it?" Hussain remarked on the podcast, referring to Root’s choice to scrap the curfew before the Pakistan series, which began on a Wednesday on Sky Sports.
"If you need a curfew, you’ve already lost control of your side. Curfews only work until someone decides to break them.
Treat your players like adults – if they misbehave, fine them first and, if necessary, leave them out of the squad. A professional outfit shouldn’t have to rely on a curfew; it only highlights how far the team had slipped to need one in the first place." Hussain went on to say, "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 stumbled in eight of its last thirteen Tests. The 2‑1 series defeat to New Zealand not only marked the end of the high‑octane ‘Bazball’ era but also coincided with Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket, leaving a significant leadership void.
Root’s first full‑time tenure as captain was also marked by a barren spell – just one victory in his final seventeen Tests before he stepped down in 2022. Hussain noted that during the second Test at The Oval, Root was handed "the biggest of hospital passes" – a reference to the heavy workload and pressure he faced.
"That 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 particular match, Root appeared to be trying to emulate Stokes, attempting aggressive field placements on a bouncy Oval pitch where the ball was moving behind the wicket. "He didn’t have the natural sense of the tempo that Stokes possessed," Hussain argued.
While Hussain expressed confidence in Root’s commitment, he also hinted that he might have preferred to see Harry Brook take the reins. Brook, who captains England’s white‑ball sides, has shown a keen sense of the game’s rhythm in limited‑overs cricket.
"He has an aura about him, but I understand the scheduling constraints and the need to balance formats," Hussain said. Brook’s omission from the Test captaincy for the New Zealand match at The Oval raised eyebrows. Although he serves as vice‑captain, the England board may have been reluctant to overload the 27‑year‑old with the permanent Test role, especially after his controversial clash with a nightclub bouncer before an ODI last winter, which attracted considerable criticism. Michael Atherton, who recently sat down with Root, asked the captain whether his decision to stay on was driven by duty or genuine desire.
"Duty, in the sense that there isn’t anyone else ready to take the job," Atherton recalled Root saying. "If we don’t want Harry Brook to lead across all three formats, who else is there?" Root admitted he was genuinely excited about the opportunity and felt he had a strong fast‑bowling group to work with. He also praised former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, stating that McCullum had been an excellent mentor for him both as a batsman and as a leader, even though their partnership ultimately ended on a sour note.
Root emphasized that he would not impose a rigid, pre‑determined style on the side. "I want to keep the successful elements of Bazball, but I also want to imprint my own ideas on the game," he said. This measured approach aims to retain the aggressive intent that defined the previous era while allowing flexibility for adaptation. In the playing XI for the first two Tests, Essex batsman Jordan Cox will slot in at number three, covering for the injured Jacob Bethell.
Cox previously featured at number six in the second Test defeat to New Zealand at The Oval, scoring 27 and 25 in his two innings. He and Root have become better acquainted through their stint together at Welsh Fire in The Hundred, where they spent three and a half weeks training side by side.
Cox reflected on the experience, saying, "Spending that time with Joe in the nets, talking about cricket and life, has been fantastic. It’s given me a deeper insight into his mindset and leadership style." Cox added that while The Hundred had just concluded, the focus now shifts to the pinnacle of the sport – Test cricket.
"We had a good training session yesterday and have a couple of days to fine‑tune our preparations for a big Test match," he noted. The upcoming three‑match series against Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from August 19, offering fans a chance to see whether Root’s curfew‑free policy and his evolving captaincy instincts will translate into on‑field success.
The series also provides an opportunity for England to rebuild confidence after a difficult spell, test new combinations, and perhaps rediscover the instinctive, game‑reading qualities that have defined some of its most successful captains in recent memory. In summary, while Nasser Hussain applauds Root’s mature decision to treat his players as adults and discard the restrictive curfew, he remains cautious about the captain’s ability to consistently sense the flow of a Test match. The balance between disciplined leadership and intuitive game awareness will be the key narrative to watch as England embarks on this crucial series against Pakistan.