According to reports from famous English sports journalist, Will Macpherson the England and Wales Cricket Board have introduced new policy changes in their rules for the players’ code of conduct.
The new change has come following the incident involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson. The controversy which brought headlines after the second test match of the recent series against New Zealand.
After the Ashes loss by 4-1, the board introduced a midnight curfew for the players. This protocol came due to reports of players consuming alcohol. It is also famous as Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer before captaining the team at Wellington in November earlier. After the infamous Stokes-Atkinson incident, Rob Key (the managing director) had floated the idea of outright booze ban. According to reports, the new policies include:
The midnight curfew is in place
Players cannot appear under the influence of alcohol in public, or post on social media about any ‘alcohol-related material or activities’
Players must inform the team management or security if they are out of the hotel after 10pm, including changes of plan.
The new policy is continued in a second section,’In addition, from the day before the start of any match until the end of the day after that match has finished’:
We recommend that no alcohol be consumed’
Players cannot drink at all in public, including public areas of the team hotel, unless ‘specifically approved by Key or head coach Brendon McCullum’
Players are ‘strongly discouraged’ from consuming alcohol in private in this period because ‘preparation, recovery and professionalism must take priority’.
Rob Key explains reasoning behind stricter protocols for English players
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed to reports that its player conduct guidelines remain in effect until the end of what would effectively be day six if a Test match finishes on the fifth day.
The revised document, signed by England men’s managing director Rob Key, states that its purpose is to “protect the players, the reputation both of cricket in England and Wales and the ECB, and to optimise player performance.”
One of the key changes is a stricter recommendation on alcohol consumption. Players are now advised not to consume alcohol even after a match has concluded, unlike the previous version of the policy, which only covered the period until the end of play. The move marks a shift from the long-standing tradition of post-Test drinks.
The ECB has also updated the wording of several clauses. A reference to “every day of an England men’s series/tour” has been replaced with “every day of the duration of an England men’s home series and tour,” broadening the scope of the guidelines.
Moreover, it also gives team management the flexibility to modify restrictions during a series. Between 2017 and 2022, England’s curfew was frequently relaxed after Test victories to allow players to celebrate. Following the Trent Bridge Test and Ben Stokes’ retirement, England’s official social media channels even shared an image of the captain holding a beer, suggesting celebrations were permitted once team commitments had been completed.