Former England spinner Graham Swann has criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for introducing a strict curfew for gamers. Swann defended captain Ben Stokes, saying gamers ought to be allowed to have a good time massive achievements fairly than being intently monitored.
England achieved a 115-run victory over New Zealand within the first Take a look at at Lord’s. After the match, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been concerned in an incident with Saracens Academy rugby participant Totoa Ouvah in a nightclub, resulting in disciplinary motion. Exclusion from second take a look at match.
A day if you’re not allowed to have a good time a Take a look at victory is a darkish day – Graham Swann
In an interview with PTI, Graham Swann criticized the ECB’s determination to impose a midnight curfew on England gamers. The previous spinner mentioned such restrictions don’t replicate the truth within the dressing room and stop gamers from correctly celebrating necessary achievements.
“My ideas on this are very combined. The very fact that there’s a curfew…I’m a former participant. I’ll by no means persuade you {that a} curfew is an effective factor. The actual fact that there was a curfew within the first place is ridiculous,” Swan informed PTI.
“I perceive why they did it, as a result of they’re making an attempt to color a superb picture for different folks, public relations. It would not work. The ECB will be taught from that that we should not have accomplished that.”
“We should always have gone out and sat down and really talked about what we’ll do as a tradition and ensure we transfer ahead. However it’s a darkish day after we simply have a midnight curfew after we win a Take a look at match and we’re not allowed to have a good time our personal Take a look at match victory.”
Video | Former England spinner Graham Swann has warned that England will battle to discover a substitute for captain Ben Stokes if that occurs.
Skipper Stokes induced controversy after footage emerged of him celebrating with teammate Gus at a nightclub after a highway take a look at. pic.twitter.com/XcbV6jgDHa
— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) June 13, 2026
I do not assume Ben Stokes did something flawed – Graham Swann
Graham Swann has backed Ben Stokes amid criticism of the curfew controversy. The previous England spinner mentioned Stokes had accomplished nothing flawed, including that the rule ought to by no means have been launched within the first place.
“I do not assume Ben Stokes did something flawed right here apart from breaking a rule that ought to by no means have been in place within the first place. I do not know the historical past or what occurred. No one is aware of the historical past, so I am not going to touch upon that both.”
“Like I mentioned, he celebrated profitable the Take a look at match. I’ve no drawback with that. I’ve an enormous drawback with a crew curfew at midnight after profitable a Take a look at. It is positive earlier than a Take a look at. You should not drink earlier than or throughout a match. As knowledgeable athlete, you should not try this. However you do not have to place that on paper for me.”
Ben Stokes is irreplaceable – Graham Swann talks about England captain’s future
Graham Swann says England will battle to interchange Ben Stokes if he loses his captaincy. The previous spinner praised Stokes’ management and all-round skill, describing him as one of the necessary figures in English cricket.
“I do not know. I hope this is not the tip of it, as a result of he is most likely our greatest captain since Andrew Strauss. Alastair Cook dinner will not like that. Sorry, Cookie. I feel he is an excellent supervisor and he leads by instance. He actually leads by instance.”
“The issue is on the sector. We do not have an all-rounder close to Ben Stokes…what he brings with the bat and the ball. Stokes is an enigma. He is a world-class quick bowler who swings the ball. We do not have a swing bowler. No one has a swing bowler on the earth. So I feel he is irreplaceable on the sector. And as captain, he is been nice.”
