After England’s win against New Zealand in the first Test, captain Ben Stokes faced criticism for breaking a curfew. However, former spinner Graeme Swann defended him, saying there shouldn’t be a curfew, especially after a win.
Swann’s stance differs from that of former England captain Michael Vaughan, who thinks Stokes made a mistake by ignoring the curfew set by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
“I have mixed feelings about this. I’m a former player, and you won’t convince me that curfews are helpful. It’s silly they even established one,” Swann stated, as reported by Hindustan Times. “I understand the reasoning behind it—they want to present a positive image. However, that approach doesn’t work. The ECB should learn from this and focus on discussing the team’s culture and future direction. Banning celebration after a Test win is a disappointing move,” he added.
Swann further maintained that Stokes didn’t do anything wrong, criticizing the curfew policy instead. He feels such rules are unnecessary after a successful match.
“Ben Stokes didn’t do anything wrong, except for breaking a rule that shouldn’t exist. I don’t know the details of what happened, so I won’t comment on that. He simply celebrated the Test win, which is completely fine with me. My main concern is the midnight curfew after a victory,” Swann said.