England Men’s Cricketers Advised To Avoid Alcohol After Off-Field Dramas: Report

London: England men’s cricketers have been advised to avoid drinking alcohol the day before and after matches under a new code of conduct, Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Friday.

A midnight curfew was imposed in Australia following a dismal 4-1 Ashes series defeat in January that was marred by allegations of a drinking culture.

The controversy flared up further during England’s 2-1 home series defeat against New Zealand.

England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, who retired from international cricket after the series, were excluded from the second Test at the Oval for breaking curfew at a London nightclub following England’s victory in the first Test.

However, there was uncertainty about the curfew following suggestions from some England players, including Atkinson, who lives in London, that they did not think the ban would apply after the game finished.

However, the Telegraph reports that in light of this incident, new guidance has been issued to players confirming that a midnight curfew applies on each day of a series, whether at home or on tour.

It is also recommended not to consume alcohol immediately before, during or the day after the match.

But the head coach and director of cricket, currently staffed by Brendon McCullum and Rob Key respectively, have the discretion to relax the recommendations as they see fit.

This will give players the freedom to celebrate wins or continue traditions such as having an end-of-series drink with the opposition at the end of the Ashes series.

The guidelines only apply to England’s senior men’s teams; Women in England have no official rules about alcohol.