Joe Root removes England's night curfew on return as Test captain after four years

England’s new Test captain Joe Root has said that there won’t be any night curfews for the team under his leadership. The England cricket team has made headlines due to their night curfew and the players’ off-field behaviour over the past year.

The restrictions came into effect after Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a bouncer while trying to enter a nightclub in Wellington a night before the third ODI against New Zealand in November, 2025.

Brook had gone out with his teammates Jacob Bethell and Jos Tongue when he was hit by a bouncer while trying to enter a nightclub in an inebriated state. Later, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke the curfew following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in June, which led to their suspension for a match.

However, despite recent incidents, Root is against imposing any team curfews, asserting that they don’t work.

"There's not going to be a curfew. I don't think this needs to be a big deal, to be honest. 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,” Root said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.

He also stated that it’s the responsibility of the new team management to oversee that the team is only known for their on-field performances and not for what they do off the field. He also advised his teammates to look after each other and create a strong team culture.

We should be known for how we play cricket: Root

"That's for us as a team to manage well, and police well for me and [new head coach] Stephen Fleming. 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. 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,” he added.

Root returns to lead England’s Test team after stepping down from his position in 2022. He has been appointed as the new leader, following Ben Stokes' retirement after the New Zealand series. His first assignment will be the three-match Test series against Pakistan beginning on August 19. 

Meanwhile, Stephen Fleming has been handed the coaching reins after Brendon McCullum was sacked from his position. Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim coach for the Pakistan Test series, with Fleming set to link up with the team later this year.