McCullum relaxes ECB's alcohol guidelines after T20I series win

Following England's 4-0 series win in the T20Is against India, head coach Brendon McCullum has overruled the ECB's guidelines asking the team to avoid consuming alcohol on the day before and after matches. McCullum said he was happy for his players to enjoy a drink "as long as no one lands on the front page."

The development preceded McCullum being stood down from the Test job, which was confirmed on Sunday, even as he will continue to be in charge of the white-ball setups.

On the back of a series of alcohol-related incidents that have marred English cricket since the winter of 2025, the ECB issued a fresh set of guidelines to the players, which was first reported by The Telegraph on Friday. The guidelines confirmed the retention of the midnight curfew that was put in place following England's Ashes defeat in January, besides a recommendation for the players to not consume alcohol on the days before and after a match, as well as during the course of the match itself.

However, it also carried a clause that McCullum and managing director Rob Key could relax the rule if they deemed it fit to do so. The head coach has chosen to do that following England's win in the 5th T20I against India in Southampton that saw them clinch the No.1 spot in the ICC team rankings.

"For a start, there's not many of our guys that actually drink, but anyone that wants a beer can have a beer, yes," McCullum said. "The guidelines are in place. People are very aware of the guidelines. They've been sent around. The policy is designed to make sure that people are being looked after and making the right decisions."

McCullum reiterated his trust in his players, who he felt had to 'feel the warmth of success'.

"I trust the players completely. All the information is there. You still have to feel the warmth of success and if you are someone that likes a beer, then tonight is a great opportunity to be able to enjoy yourself - as long as it's sensible, and it's not to excess - and allow something that you've achieved over the last ten days or so sink in the way that you want it to.

"But everyone's very aware of it [the guidelines] and I think we'll have a quiet beer and just let this one land - just as long as no one lands on the front page," he added.

English men's cricket has found itself in multiple alcohol-related incidents since their tour of New Zealand last October. White ball skipper Harry Brook was struck down by a bouncer, before he was fined and given a warning following their 4-1 Ashes loss. Claims of excessive drinking surfaced during the team's mid-series retreat to Noosa following a big defeat in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.

The latest incident saw Test captain Ben Stokes and pacer Gus Atkinson breach the team's midnight curfew following their win over New Zealand at Lord's in June. The duo were not considered for selection for the second Test at The Oval pending an investigation into an incident at a nightclub that also involved a Saracens rugby player.

The ECB recalled the duo for the third Test, with Stokes returning as captain, stating that no blame was to be attached to the players for the incident although written warnings were issued to them. The Cricket Regulator, to whom the ECB referred the matter, also took no further action against Stokes and Atkinson. Stokes eventually retired from international cricket at the end of the Test at Trent Bridge, which England lost to concede the series 2-1 to New Zealand.