Geoffrey Boycott has called for strong action against England captain Ben Stokes following a late night out after the Lord’s Test. Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Boycott said the England and Wales Cricket Board should make an example of Stokes with a suspension after he was reported to have broken the team’s curfew.
Discipline and the captain
Boycott argued that the captain’s behaviour sent the wrong message and weakened discipline within the squad. He said a captain cannot openly break rules and escape consequences simply because he is vital to the team.
He accepted that players are entitled to celebrate a win and have a couple of drinks. But staying out until the early hours, in the middle of a season, was different and reflected poorly on professional standards, he wrote.
Drinking culture and timing
Boycott said England, still rebuilding after a difficult Ashes campaign, should have shown more caution, especially after earlier off-field concerns involving Harry Brook. He claimed that while the team deny any drinking culture, it is visible to everyone. The Lord’s Test finished at 1 pm, yet players were still out drinking more than 12 hours later, he pointed out.
He closed by saying leadership demands higher standards even if there is no official curfew, and urged England to avoid repeated disciplinary distractions.
