Ben Stokes has pushed back against the idea that England cricket carries a unique drinking problem, arguing the sport’s relationship with alcohol is embedded at every level worldwide. The former England Test captain made the remarks on the For The Love of Cricket podcast alongside Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler, as reported by Willow Sports via Yahoo Sports.
Stokes, who retired from international cricket shortly after these events, told his former teammates that framing the issue as an England-specific failing was an extreme characterisation. He argued that despite the sport growing far more professional over recent decades, with improved nutrition, medical support and athlete preparation, its association with alcohol had not kept pace. That culture, he said, runs from club cricket all the way to the international stage.
The Curfew Breach That Prompted the Discussion
The comments follow a disciplinary episode during England’s series against New Zealand. According to Willow Sports, Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were stood down by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the second Test after breaking team curfew during a late-night outing. A subsequent investigation cleared both players of any further wrongdoing, and they returned for the third Test.
The incident prompted the ECB to introduce stricter alcohol guidelines for England players.
Retirement Adds Weight to Stokes’ Remarks
Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket shortly after rejoining the squad. He will continue playing domestic and franchise cricket. His willingness to speak openly on the podcast, free from the constraints of active international duty, gave the conversation added candour.
His observations on the broader sport are consistent with his wider post-retirement reflections. For more on what Stokes has said about his England future, see our earlier piece: [Stokes Sets Sights on England Coaching Role and Questions Brook Captaincy Decision].
ECB Tightens Rules After Incident
The ECB’s response was swift. New alcohol guidelines were put in place across the England setup following the curfew breach. The board did not publicly detail the specific terms of those guidelines, but the introduction of formal rules represents a firmer institutional stance than had previously been in place.
Stokes did not frame the issue as one requiring a crackdown. His position was more descriptive: that cricket’s culture around alcohol is longstanding and sport-wide, and that England was being singled out for something far more universal.
