The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering strict disciplinary action following the team’s disappointing performance during the Ashes 2025-26 series. According to a report in The Times, the ECB is now discussing the idea of imposing a curfew on players during the Sri Lanka tour and the T20 World Cup.
The ECB has launched an internal review following the Ashes defeat amid concerns over team culture ahead of the seven-week tour of the subcontinent. There were reports of heavy drinking in Noosa midway through the series, as well as reports of Harry Brook being involved in an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand.
ECB sees curfew as England’s off-field troubles continue
The ECB is moving towards tightening discipline after reviewing concerns related to team culture. According to The Times, the board has already started making changes ahead of England’s white-ball series against Sri Lanka and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“According to a source, changes are already being made in relation to the team’s ‘culture’ for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka and the subsequent T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India,” The Times reported.
England lost the Ashes within 11 days. Later reports revealed that between the second and third Tests in Brisbane, members of the touring squad drank for six days, which was compared to a “stag do”. The ECB is now considering stricter measures to better control the team environment.
England’s off-field incidents put team culture in the spotlight
Off-field issues continued to attract attention in England during and after the Ashes. Ben Duckett was seen in a viral video in Noosa where he appeared to be heavily intoxicated, raising concerns about the player’s behavior on the tour.
After the Ashes ended, The Telegraph reported another incident involving Harry Brook. England’s white-ball captain was involved in a heated argument with a bouncer after being refused entry to a nightclub in New Zealand. He was later fined £30,000 (AU$60,000) for the incident.
The idea of imposing curfew on players is not new for England. A similar rule was implemented following Ben Stokes’ nightclub brawl in Bristol during the 2017–18 Ashes, as well as the clash between Jonny Bairstow and Cameron Bancroft.
The curfew was later lifted with the appointment of Brendon McCullum as head coach in 2022 after Stokes took over as captain. Now the pressure on England’s Test setup is increasing, the demand for major changes is increasing.
England ready to tour Sri Lanka before T20 World Cup campaign
England will next tour Sri Lanka for a white-ball series. The team will play three ODIs and three T20 matches between January 22 and February 3, with the team leaving on January 18. Notably, the ODI series will begin from January 22, followed by T20 matches from January 30.
After the Sri Lanka tour, England will focus their attention on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They have been placed in Group C along with Bangladesh, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. The two-time champions will begin their campaign against Nepal on February 8 at the Wankhede Stadium.
England will be looking to improve on their previous performance after their semi-final exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they lost to India by 68 runs in Guyana.
Also read: Harry Brook in trouble! Australia’s World Cup-winning captain demands strict punishment for nightclub fight
