Former England Test great Nasser Hussain praised Joe Root’s recent move to scrap the team curfew, calling it a mature step, yet he also expressed concern that the England skipper sometimes seems to lack the intuitive grasp of the game that his predecessor Ben Stokes possessed. Root has now led England on a record 65 Tests, a streak that includes a recent second‑Test loss to New Zealand earlier this summer. That defeat came after Stokes and all‑rounder Gus Atkinson were suspended for breaching a curfew that had been introduced in the wake of the 4‑1 Ashes drubbing in the winter. During the latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain remarked, “It’s a grown‑up decision, isn’t it?” when discussing Root’s choice to abolish the curfew ahead of the three‑Test series against Pakistan, which began on Wednesday on Sky Sports.
He went on to argue that a curfew signals a loss of control, stating, “If you have to impose a curfew, you’ve already lost the team. Someone is always going to break it, and it only creates friction.” Hussain suggested that treating players as adults is a better approach: “If they don’t behave, first you fine them; if they still don’t improve, you leave them out.” He added that a professional outfit should never need such restrictions, and the very existence of a curfew reflected how poorly the side had been managed. “I’m really pleased that Joe has said ‘no, enough of that nonsense’,” Hussain concluded, applauding the captain’s willingness to move away from what he sees as an unnecessary rule.
The immediate challenge for Root is to revive an England side that has stumbled in eight of its last 13 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’ retirement from international cricket. Root’s first permanent spell as England captain also ended on a bleak note, with just one victory in his final 17 Tests before he stepped down in 2022. Hussain recalled the pressure of that period, saying, “He was given the biggest of hospital passes for the second Test at The Oval. It was very recent, not four years ago, and it brought back memories of Joe as a captain.” Hussain went on to critique Root’s performance in that particular match, noting that despite being a superb player with a natural feel for a game’s tempo, Root appeared to lack that instinct on the day.
“He seemed to be trying too hard to emulate Ben Stokes, pushing his men onto a bouncy Oval pitch where the ball was staying low. He didn’t have the feel of the game that Stokes displayed.” The former England captain added that while he is pleased Root has taken the helm, he might have leaned more toward Harry Brook’s style. “Brook, in the white‑ball format, shows a real feel for the game and an aura about him.
I understand the scheduling constraints, but I see potential in that approach.” Brook, who serves as England’s white‑ball vice‑captain, was passed over for the Test role in that second New Zealand match at The Oval. His omission may have been influenced by a desire not to overload the 27‑year‑old with responsibilities across three formats, especially after a high‑profile incident last winter where he clashed with a nightclub bouncer before an ODI, attracting widespread 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 is really nobody else. Once they don’t want Harry Brook to do it over three formats, where else do they go?” Atherton recalled Root saying. Root replied that he is genuinely excited about the opportunity, feeling he has a solid fast‑bowling attack to work with. He also noted his loyalty to the ideas that preceded him, praising former coach Brendon McCullum for his influence on his batting and on the team, even though that partnership ended poorly.
“I’m not looking to throw everything out. I want to keep the parts of Bazball that worked and add my own stamp,” Root explained. “The most important thing is I won’t impose a predetermined style on the side.” In terms of squad selection, Essex batsman Jordan Cox will slot in at number three for the first two Tests, covering for 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 has spent the past few weeks alongside Root in The Hundred, playing for Welsh Fire, and says the time together has helped him understand the captain on a more personal level. “I’ve been with him for about three‑and‑a‑half weeks now in The Hundred, and we’ve got along really well. It’s been awesome getting to pick his brain in the nets and talking about cricket and life in general,” he said. He added, “Test cricket is the pinnacle, and The Hundred only finished last night.
Unfortunately we finished a bit earlier, so we got a bit more time – a good training session yesterday, tomorrow and the day after to get ready for a big Test match.” The three‑Test series against Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from August 19, with streaming options available through NOW for contract‑free viewing. The series offers Root a chance to prove that his ‘grown‑up’ approach to team management can translate into on‑field success, while also addressing the lingering question of whether he possesses the innate game‑sense that made Ben Stokes such a compelling leader.