The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has introduced new alcohol-related protocols for players, according to British media reports.
Under the updated guidelines, players will be strictly prohibited from consuming alcohol on the day, after a match. Additionally, any player leaving the team hotel after 10 pm will be required to inform team management or security officials.
The new protocols also prevent players from sharing alcohol-related activities, images or content on social media platforms as part of the board’s updated conduct measures.
It is worth mentioning here that England players were permitted to consume alcohol immediately after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge as part of the celebrations marking Ben Stokes’ international retirement.
However, the new recommendations introduced by the ECB apply specifically to players and do not include coaching or support staff.
Under the updated guidelines, players who choose to drink before, during, or after matches have been advised to avoid doing so in public. They have also been strongly encouraged to limit private alcohol consumption to support better preparation, recovery, and professional standards.
The protocols are applicable only to the England senior men’s team. Other England sides, including the women’s team, Lions, and age-group squads, follow their own separate policies. The England women’s team does not currently have formal alcohol restrictions.
The updated curfew rules also remain in place, although there are situations where players may leave the England camp due to extended breaks between matches or when they are released to join their county teams. In such cases, the decision will remain at the discretion of team management.
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