Joe Root lifts midnight curfew for England cricket squads as he resumes Test captaincy

Returning to the role of Test captain, Joe Root has scrapped the midnight curfew that was reinstated under Ben Stokes following a series of off-field incidents on tours of New Zealand and Australia. The restriction, originally imposed during Root’s first tenure and later re-introduced earlier this year, will now be lifted for both the Test team and the limited-overs side, which is led by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook.

Root told one outlet that adult players should be trusted to make responsible choices outside the stadium. He added that the team’s culture will be managed jointly by him and incoming Test coach Stephen Fleming, with Marcus Trescothick acting as interim coach for the first Pakistan Test at Headingley. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the policy shift and reiterated expectations for player conduct during match periods.