Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Root ditches curfew ahead of England-Pakistan Test at Headingley
Cricket is a game played with a bat and ball, and Joe Root is the captain of the England Test cricket team.
In August, England will play a big match against Pakistan.
Before that match, Root made an important decision: there will be no curfew for the players.
A curfew is a rule that says everyone must be back by a certain time at night.
A curfew had been put in place after some players stayed out too late at a nightclub and missed a match.
Root said he does not think curfews work.
He believes players should act like responsible grown-ups and make good choices on their own.
He wants the team to be known for playing great cricket, not for getting into trouble off the field.
The first match against Pakistan will be at the Headingley ground on August 19.
Joe Root confirmed there will be no curfew during his second spell as England Test captain.
Root leads England against Pakistan at Headingley on August 19 in their first Test since Ben Stokes retired and Brendon McCullum was sacked as red-ball coach.
In June, Stokes and Gus Atkinson were out past a midnight curfew at a London nightclub and missed the second Test against New Zealand at the Oval.
England managing director Rob Key had established the curfew after Harry Brook was fined for an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand last November.
Root said curfews do not work and players should be trusted as "grown adults" to make strong decisions off the field.
- Who
- Joe Root, England Test captain in his second spell, with Ben Stokes retired from international cricket and Brendon McCullum sacked as red-ball coach.
- What
- Root announced the removal of the England team curfew before leading the side in the first Test against Pakistan.
- When
- Ahead of the Test on August 19; the curfew breach that sidelined Stokes and Gus Atkinson occurred in June.
- Where
- Headingley, England, where the first Test will be played; the nightclub incident happened in London.
- Why
- Root believes curfews do not work and that players should take responsibility as grown adults and make strong decisions off the field.
Curfew as a management tool
No curfew, trust the players
Team curfew policy
Curfew as a management tool
The England management, led by Rob Key, introduced a curfew after off-field incidents: Harry Brook was fined for an altercation with a bouncer, and Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached a midnight curfew and missed a Test.
No curfew, trust the players
Joe Root says curfews do not work, and players should be trusted as grown adults to make good, strong decisions and self-police off the field.
- England Test captain
- Joe Root
- Opponents
- Pakistan
- Fixture
- First Test of the series
- Date
- August 19
- Venue
- Headingley, Root's home ground
- Curfew
- Removed — no curfew during Root's captaincy
- Curfew established by
- England managing director Rob Key
- New red-ball coach
- Stephen Fleming