England Test Captain Joe Root has scrapped the team’s curfew ahead of the three-Test series against Pakistan, making player responsibility a central part of the culture he intends to establish during his second spell in charge.
The change follows a turbulent period for England off the field and marks a move away from the tighter behavioural controls introduced by the ECB in July. Those guidelines included a midnight curfew, a requirement for players to notify management when away from the team hotel after 10pm, and restrictions on appearing under the influence of alcohol in public.
Root puts responsibility back on England players
England’s Test environment will now operate without a fixed curfew, with Root placing greater emphasis on players managing their own conduct and recognising the standards that come with representing the national team.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Root said, “There’s not going to be a curfew. I don’t think this needs to be a big deal, to be honest.”
Root added, “My view on curfews is that I don’t think they work, and if you want guys to take responsibility on the field, they’ve got to feel like they can be grown adults and make good, strong decisions off it.”
The shift comes after England’s dressing-room culture faced scrutiny following several off-field incidents. Former Captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson missed the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval in June after breaking a curfew during a nightclub incident, before both returned for the third Test.
Root said, “We should be known for how we play cricket and what we do on the field. We should be on the back page of papers.”
The new approach does not seek to prevent players from celebrating victories, but instead places the responsibility on them to recognise when their behaviour could interfere with their preparation or obligations as England players.
He noted, “Be adults, look after yourselves, look after each other. [We need to] create a good, strong culture where you know when the right time is to celebrate and enjoy a win or to have a sensible beer, but remember – you’ve got to play for England.”
Root stated, “You know what your responsibilities are, you know how you need to prepare for a Test match and what it takes, and the effects that these things can have on you. So be smart, be sensible, and just be an adult.”
ECB backs removal of the curfew
The decision changes how behavioural expectations will be enforced within England’s Test setup after the ECB strengthened its player conduct guidelines in July.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement to Sky Sports, “We have a Test captain and coach, who are looking at how they set team standards and culture. As part of this, the curfew will no longer be in place. We will ensure all players have a clear understanding of expectations when they come together for the upcoming Test series.”
England’s Pakistan series begins at Headingley on August 19, followed by the second Test at Lord’s from August 27 and the third at Edgbaston from September 9. Marcus Trescothick will serve as Interim Head Coach for the series, while Fleming is due to take charge for the South Africa series in December.
Stokes return remains an open question
Root returned to the captaincy following Stokes’ retirement from international cricket in June. Stokes’ departure came after the New Zealand series in which he and Atkinson had been left out of the second Test following the curfew breach.
The former Captain’s retirement has not prompted Root to completely close the door on the possibility of Stokes playing for England again ahead of the 2027 Ashes.
Asked whether he would welcome Stokes back, Root said, “I don’t know – let’s get there first.”
Root looks ahead to working with Fleming
England’s longer-term Test leadership structure will take shape when Fleming begins his role in December. He succeeds Brendon McCullum, who stepped down from the Test position following England’s 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand but remains in charge of the white-ball teams.
Root said, “I’ll be honest with you. I was gutted when I found out Brendon was no longer going to be the Test coach. He’s someone that I feel has really got the best out of me personally.”
Fleming arrives with a coaching record built predominantly in T20 cricket, while Root has previously crossed paths with the former New Zealand Captain through his work with teams around the world.
Root added, “He’s someone that I really did admire as a player. The way that he’s always held himself as a captain first and foremost. His record as a coach has been exceptional, albeit in T20 cricket.”
Archer management among Root’s lessons from first spell
Root’s return to the captaincy also gives him an opportunity to apply lessons from his previous tenure. One area he has acknowledged getting wrong was his management of Jofra Archer, who bowled 42 overs in his first overseas Test in New Zealand in November 2019 and subsequently endured an injury-disrupted period that kept him out of Test cricket for more than four years between 2021 and 2025.
Root said, “I think at times maybe I did over-bowl him and over-use him. The attack that he works with now complements him really well.”
Archer remains part of Root’s plans as England move forward under their returning Captain.
He added, “I believe he’s a generational talent and someone that is going to have produced wonderful things for England across the formats.”
Root approaches second captaincy with a different perspective
Four years after his previous tenure ended, Root returns to the role with the experience of his first period in charge and the opportunity to approach the position differently.
Root stated, “I think the hardest thing for me will be people’s opinion of how I captained four years ago. I think it’s very important to remember, and for me to remember more than anything, I’m a completely different player from what I was four years ago.”
The Pakistan series will be Root’s first full assignment since returning as Test Captain, putting his new approach to leadership, player responsibility and team culture into practice as England begin a new chapter under his captaincy.
