- Stuart Broad says England “there isn’t a drinking culture” despite the Ashes backlash.
- He accepts players “could have done more” to avoid headlines after incidents involving Harry Brook and Ben Duckett.
- Broad warns a return to a strict 12am curfew could be counterproductive.
Stuart Broad has defended England’s Test set up amid scrutiny of the squad’s off-field behaviour after the 4-1 Ashes defeat, insisting the current group do not have a drinking problem while accepting they left themselves exposed to damaging headlines.
Speaking on The Love of Cricket podcast, Broad addressed the reaction to reports that Harry Brook was fined £30,000 after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand, as well as images of England players drinking during their mid-series break in Noosa, including Ben Duckett appearing to be slurring his words while looking lost in the street.
Those episodes have prompted discussion about England’s management reintroducing a 12am curfew for the upcoming white ball tour of Sri Lanka, which begins next week and leads into the T20 World Cup. Broad said a hard rule risks missing the point.
“They’ve just had a couple of guys who have made mistakes and that’s got into the media,” Broad said. “I think it’s up to your teammates to get you out of those situations, and that’s when your culture’s really strong.
“Ben Duckett isn’t left alone, no idea where his hotel is. Harry Brook doesn’t get himself in a situation with a bouncer, because they’re not allowed anywhere near that situation. So I think that’s the thing that will disappoint Baz [head coach Brendon McCullum].
“I really didn’t like having a 12 o’clock curfew, because I just didn’t feel like you should need it. As long as you have people around you to get yourself home at a suitable hour, having the team-mates around you to go,’ your time’s up’.”
Broad drew a line between a lack of discipline in certain moments and the idea of a wider issue within the squad, arguing the lifestyle demands of international cricket make some form of switch off necessary.
“As an international player, you need some sort of release,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s ‘have a few beers, whatever your release is’, but if you don’t have that mental switch-off, it drives you mad if you don’t do anything.
“Cricketers are away six months of the year in hotels. [But] there isn’t a drinking culture. I’ll hang my hat on that, knowing the boys as well as I do. But it is just making sure the boys don’t get in trouble when situations arise.”
Jos Buttler, Broad’s podcast co-host and former England teammate, reinforced the point that perception matters as much as intent for high-profile internationals.
“A lot of it is optics as well, isn’t it?” Buttler said. “You’ve got to be so aware. Your team-mates look after you, but you’ve got to look after yourself. That is a price you pay for being an international cricketer and playing for England.
“You can’t just go and do whatever you want. You’re professional, you have to live a professional life, which the boys do, and you have to make it look that way as well.”