No More Midnight Curfew! Joe Root Makes Big Change After England’s Turbulent Summer

England’s men’s cricket team has entered a new chapter under returning Test captain Joe Root, with the team’s midnight curfew scrapped ahead of the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan.

The curfew had been introduced by England managing director Rob Key following a series of controversial late-night incidents during the team’s winter tours of New Zealand and Australia. The policy was intended to reinforce discipline and ensure players remained focused on their responsibilities while representing England.

Root, however, believes responsibility cannot simply be enforced by setting a deadline. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, he confirmed there would be no curfew under his leadership and argued that England’s players should be trusted to make mature decisions away from the field.

“I don’t think this needs to be a big deal,” Root said, adding that if players are expected to take responsibility on the field, they should also be trusted to behave like adults off it.

The curfew controversy intensified after former Test captain Ben Stokes breached the restriction following England’s match against New Zealand in June. Stokes was temporarily suspended before his sudden retirement from Test cricket, a dramatic sequence of events that ultimately paved the way for Root’s return as captain.

Root, who is beginning his second spell as England Test skipper, said the team would instead focus on building a strong internal culture in which players understand when it is appropriate to celebrate and when they need to remain disciplined.

He said players should be able to enjoy a victory, have a sensible drink and celebrate together, while never forgetting the responsibility that comes with playing for England.

Root will now lead the team into his latest era as captain when England begin their three-Test series against Pakistan next week, with discipline, trust and player accountability expected to form the foundation of his leadership.