England's men's cricket players have been issued new behavioral guidelines that include advice to avoid alcohol consumption on the day before and the day after matches. This change follows recent off-field issues that have impacted the team.
A midnight curfew has also been reinforced for all days of a series, whether played at home or abroad. This policy aims to address concerns raised by incidents that occurred during the Ashes tour.
The updated recommendations suggest that players refrain from drinking alcohol for a 48-hour period surrounding any given match. For a five-day Test match, this would extend the recommendation to the day following the final day's play. However, the head coach and director of cricket retain the discretion to relax these guidelines for specific occasions, such as celebrating a victory or participating in traditional end-of-series events like an Ashes drink with the opposition. Players were notably permitted to drink immediately after Ben Stokes' final Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge to mark his international retirement.
These recommendations apply specifically to players, not to support staff. Furthermore, players are strongly discouraged from consuming alcohol, even in private, to prioritize preparation and recovery, thereby fostering greater professionalism within the squad. It remains unconfirmed whether these guidelines extend to all England teams, including women's and pathway programs.
The guidelines also touch upon the midnight curfew, noting that it might not apply when players are naturally released from the team camp due to long gaps between matches or during periods when they return to their respective counties.