Brendon McCullum Allows England Players To ‘Drink’ After India Win

Brendon McCullum allows England players to drink alcohol [Source: AFP]

England head coach Brendon McCullum has decided to relax ECB’s new drinking regulations, at least for a while. Both McCullum as well as team director Rob Key made the decision in a bid to allow England players to celebrate their historic T20I series win over Team India.

It is worth noting that earlier this year, the ECB imposed a midnight curfew on England players in wake of the Harry Brook incident in New Zealand and the Ben Duckett controversy during the Ashes in Australia.

However, just a few days ago, the board doubled down on its decision and imposed even stricter guidelines surrounding England team’s alcohol culture, doing so just weeks after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in a nightclub incident in London.

England coach encourages team to feel the “warmth” of India series success

England head coach Brendon McCullum is willing to relax ECB’s alcohol guidelines for the team after its successful 4-0 series win over world champions India. 

Even though the ECB set up even stricter guidelines regarding England’s alcohol culture, the policy came with a clause that McCullum as well as managing director Rob Key could overrule it for a while. 

Also Read- Harry Brook Creates History With Whirlwind 95* Vs India In 5th T20I

While speaking after the series win over India, Brendon McCullum said that he wants the players to feel the “warmth of success” by heaving a bear. However, the former New Zealand captain also put up a condition, saying that none of the players should land on the “front page” for the wrong reasons.

He said “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.”

Brendon McCullum added “But everyone's very aware of it [the guidance] 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.”

What guidelines did ECB impose on England players?

Apart from imposing a midnight curfew on the England team earlier this year, the ECB also set up fresh and stricter guidelines just a few days ago. The board brought down the hammer in wake of the nightclub incident involving Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson and a Saracens rugby player. 

The ECB asked players to not have alcohol in between Test matches, or even a day after its conclusion. The ECB continued its stance on the midnight curfew, and urged players to not appear in public under the influence of alcohol. 

England script history, attain number one ranking

One can empathize with Brendon McCullum's decision, as he wanted his players to savour a landmark achievement after England completed a historic 4-0 T20I series whitewash over world champions India.

Moreover, the series win also helped England climb to the number one spot in the ICC T20I men’s team rankings. England will now host India in a three-match ODI series later this week.

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