England cricket players have been advised to abstain from consuming alcohol the day after a match, following the issuance of updated guidelines following a recent incident.
After the initial summer Test match against New Zealand, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson extended their night out at Rex Rooms on King’s Road in London, despite a midnight curfew introduced by England after the previous Ashes series was marred by drinking incidents.
During the late-night incident, a Saracens academy rugby player reportedly assaulted Atkinson, causing injuries to England’s security guard James Shaw, leading to the exclusion of Stokes and Atkinson from the subsequent Test match.
The England team management expressed strong dissatisfaction, with Atkinson claiming he was unaware of the curfew, calling for clearer guidelines on imposed rules.
Following the incident, managing director Rob Key proposed the idea of a complete alcohol ban, though refrained from enforcing it outright, instead updating the alcohol policy, which was shared with players before the next Test match.
Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket upon his return for the third Test. The Telegraph reported on the revised alcohol regulations, which now apply throughout an England men’s home series and tour, emphasizing the midnight curfew and prohibiting players from public appearances under the influence of alcohol or posting alcohol-related content on social media.
Additionally, players are required to notify team management or security if they are outside the team’s hotel after 10 pm. The new rules restrict alcohol consumption from the day before a match until the day after, strongly discouraging any consumption without explicit approval.
The regulations aim to safeguard players, uphold the reputation of cricket in England and Wales and the ECB, and enhance player performance by prioritizing preparation, recovery, and professionalism over alcohol consumption.