England men's players are advised to avoid drinking alcohol on the day before and the day after matches, under new behaviour guidelines.

Former England captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in an incident in a London nightclub England men's players have been advised to avoid drinking alcohol on the day before and the day after matches, under new behaviour guidelines. A midnight curfew was introduced following an Ashes tour blighted by off-field problems, but ambiguities around the curfew were a factor in the nightclub controversy involving Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson. In the aftermath of that incident, England players were issued new guidance, as reported by the Telegraph, external. The updated policy confirms the midnight curfew is in place on every day of a series at home or on tour. It also recommends that no alcohol be consumed on the day immediately before, during or the day immediately after a match. If, for example, a Test runs the full five days, the recommendation extends to the following day. The head coach and director of cricket, in this instance Brendon McCullum and Rob Key respectively, have the discretion to relax the recommendations when they see fit. That way, the hierarchy can allow players the freedom to celebrate a win or keep with traditions such as an end-of-series drink with the opposition at the conclusion of an Ashes series.