Joe Root scraps England midnight curfew seven months after introduction

England Test captain Joe Root has removed the midnight curfew that was imposed on the team seven months ago. Root said the players should be treated as adults and that the team would self-police its off-field conduct.

The curfew was introduced in January after incidents on tours of New Zealand and Australia. Former captain Ben Stokes broke the rule after the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, which contributed to a series of events that led to his retirement from international cricket.

The white-ball team under Harry Brook will also no longer observe the curfew. Root said grown adults know their responsibilities and that external rules do not work as well as internal accountability.