Stokes: Cricket still tied to drinking culture — SkimNews
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- Ben Stokes stated that 'cricket has a drinking culture' that has remained unchanged even as the sport has become more professional, tracing it from club level up through international teams
- Stokes denied the England team has a drinking problem, calling such a suggestion 'an extreme thing to put on a team,' while acknowledging his own past 'potentially dangerous' relationship with alcohol
- Stokes revealed he gave up alcohol during a 2025 injury recovery and has since learned to manage his behavior around drinking, though he does not believe the game’s wider culture will change easily
- Joe Root has been named permanent Test captain, a role he previously held from 2017 to 2022 before stepping down due to burnout, with Stokes expressing concern about the toll it may take on him again
- Stephen Fleming has replaced Brendon McCullum as England's Test coach following a string of poor results and off-field incidents, while McCullum remains in charge of the white-ball teams
- Stokes expressed surprise that Harry Brook was not promoted to Test captain after his retirement, noting Brook was already vice-captain and questioning the message sent by appointing Root instead
Why it matters: The England team faces ongoing scrutiny over its off-field culture at a time of poor performance, with Stokes’ candid remarks highlighting a disconnect between cricket’s professional ambitions and its entrenched social norms. His personal history with alcohol and support for Brook underscore tensions in leadership succession and cultural reform within the squad.
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