Former England spinner Graeme Swann has criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for imposing a strict midnight curfew for players. Swann defended captain Ben Stokes and said players should be allowed to celebrate big achievements rather than being strictly monitored.
England won by 115 runs over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s. After the match, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in an incident with Saracens academy rugby player Totoa Auwa in a nightclub, which led to disciplinary action and His exclusion from the second test match.
The day you’re not allowed to celebrate a Test win is a dark day – Graeme Swann
Speaking to PTI, Graeme Swann criticized the ECB’s decision to impose a midnight curfew on England players. The former spinner said such restrictions do not reflect dressing room realities and prevent players from properly celebrating important achievements.
“I have very mixed views on this,” Swann told PTI. The fact that there is a curfew in place… I am a former player. You will never convince me that curfew is a good thing. It’s ridiculous that they did this in the first place.”
“I understand why they did it, because they are trying to present a good picture to other people, for the PR side. It doesn’t work. I think they, the ECB, will learn a lesson from this that we should not have done this at all.”
“We should come out, sit down and really talk about what we are going to do as a culture and make sure we are moving forward. But imposing a midnight curfew after winning a Test match, a day when you are not allowed to celebrate winning a Test match for your country, that is a dark day.”
Video | Former England spinner Graeme Swann warned that England will have to struggle if it comes to replacing captain Ben Stokes.
Captain Stokes came into controversy after footage of the celebration in a nightclub after the Lord’s Test win surfaced, where he and his teammate Gus… pic.twitter.com/XcbV6jgDHa
– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 13, 2026
I don’t think Ben Stokes has done anything wrong – Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann supports Ben Stokes amid criticism over curfew controversy. The former England spinner said Stokes had done nothing wrong and said the rule should not have been implemented in the first place.
“I don’t think Ben Stokes did anything wrong here, other than going against a rule that should not have been applied in the first place. I don’t know the story of what happened. Nobody knows the story. So, I won’t even comment on that.”
“As I say, they celebrated winning the Test match. I have no problem with that. I have a bigger problem with the team curfew at midnight after winning a Test. Before the Test, it’s fine. You should not drink alcohol before or during the game. As a professional athlete, you should not do that. But for me, there is no need to write it on a piece of paper.”
Ben Stokes is irreplaceable – Graeme Swann on the England captain’s future
Graeme Swann said that if Ben Stokes loses his captaincy, England will have to struggle to replace him. The former spinner praised Stokes’ leadership and all-round ability, calling him one of the most important figures in English cricket.
“I don’t know. I hope that’s not the end because he’s certainly our best captain since Andrew Strauss. Alastair Cook won’t like that. Sorry, Cookie. I think he’s a very good manager and leads by example. He really leads by example.”
“The problem is on the field, we don’t have an all-rounder even close to Ben Stokes… what an amazing thing he does with bat and ball. Stokes is an enigma. He is a world-class fast bowler who swings the ball. We don’t have a swing bowler. Nobody in the world has swing bowlers. So I think he is irreplaceable on the field. And, you know, as a captain, he is fantastic.”
