Joe Root lifts England's curfew, tells players to act like adults
3 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 12, 2026, 9:17 PM
Last updated Aug 12, 2026
Joe Root has decided not to implement a curfew for England's Test team as he returns to captaincy ahead of the Pakistan series. He urges players to take responsibility for their behavior off the field, emphasizing the need for maturity, especially in light of recent alcohol-related incidents. The ECB had previously issued guidelines recommending a midnight curfew after incidents during the New Zealand series led to a suspension of players. Root expressed sadness over former coach Brendon McCullum's departure and looks forward to working with new coach Stephen Fleming. Root also hinted at the possibility of Ben Stokes returning for future series.
- •Root returns as England Test captain for the Pakistan series.
- •No curfew will be imposed, contradicting ECB guidelines.
- •Players are encouraged to behave responsibly regarding alcohol.
- •Root expresses disappointment over McCullum's departure.
- •Discussion of Ben Stokes' potential return for the Ashes remains open.
- 9:17 PMYahoo Sports — No curfew for Pakistan series, Joe Root tells England players to be 'adults'
- 2:34 PMThe Guardian Sport — ‘Be adults’: Joe Root gets rid of England Test team’s midnight curfew
"‘I don’t think they work,’ says returning Test captain Root takes charge for three-match Pakistan series Joe Root has abolished the midnight curfew for his England Test side, telling his players to “be adults” after a string of late-night incidents. A curfew was imposed on the England men’s teams after their Ashes defeat in the winter, when the on-field action was overshadowed by players’ behaviour off it. Most notably there was Harry Brook’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the eve of a one-day international in Wellington, with the batter admitting he was fortunate to keep his position as white-ball captain. Continue reading...
"Root, 35, spoke as England's dressing-room culture continues to face scrutiny following a series of off-field incidents over the past year during the tenure of former coach Brendon McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes.
"Joe Root has ruled out a curfew under his England Test captaincy and implored his players to behave like "grown adults" ahead of his first series back at the helm against Pakistan.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 12, 2026, 9:17 PMNo curfew for Pakistan series, Joe Root tells England players to be 'adults'
Root, 35, spoke as England's dressing-room culture continues to face scrutiny following a series of off-field incidents over the past year during the tenure of former coach Brendon McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes.
- The Guardian SportAug 12, 2026, 2:34 PM‘Be adults’: Joe Root gets rid of England Test team’s midnight curfew
‘I don’t think they work,’ says returning Test captain Root takes charge for three-match Pakistan series Joe Root has abolished the midnight curfew for his England Test side, telling his players to “be adults” after a string of late-night incidents. A curfew was imposed on the England men’s teams after their Ashes defeat in the winter, when the on-field action was overshadowed by players’ behaviour off it. Most notably there was Harry Brook’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the eve of a one-day international in Wellington, with the batter admitting he was fortunate to keep his position as white-ball captain. Continue reading...
- Sky Sports—'Be adults!' - Captain Root removes England curfew
Joe Root has ruled out a curfew under his England Test captaincy and implored his players to behave like "grown adults" ahead of his first series back at the helm against Pakistan.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
ICC World Test Championship•Sep 20, 2026, 3:44 PMFleming wants England back top of Test rankings as 'work to be done' on discipline
ICC World Test Championship•Sep 17, 2026, 3:58 PMTraumatised Smith says he was 'thrown to wolves' over 'sandpapergate'
ICC World Test Championship•Sep 16, 2026, 7:40 PMMohammad Rizwan breaks silence on cybercrime agency probe: 'I am fully cooperating'- ICC World Test Championship•Sep 15, 2026, 4:04 PMStephen Fleming gets special privilege denied to Brendon McCullum as England Test coach ahead of India-New Zealand series
ICC World Test Championship•Sep 14, 2026, 1:24 PMPakistan docked 11 WTC points for a slow over-rate in Edgbaston Test
ICC World Test Championship•Sep 14, 2026, 10:38 AM15 vs 3.33: How struggling England side swept Pakistan 3-0
