After England’s comfortable 4-0 series win in the T20Is against India, head coach Brendon McCullum has overruled the ECB’s guidelines, asking the team to avoid consuming alcohol on the day before and after matches as well. McCullum also said that he was happy for his players to enjoy a drink “as long as no one lands on the front page.”

This came after McCullum was stood down from the Test job, which was confirmed on Sunday, even though he will continue to be in charge of the white-ball setups as well. However, on the back of a series of alcohol-related incidents that affected the England cricket team since the winter of 2025, the ECB issued a fresh set of guidelines to the players, which was first reported by The Telegraph on Friday as well.

The guidelines confirmed the retention of the midnight curfew for players that was applied following England’s Ashes defeat in January, besides a recommendation for the players to not consume alcohol on the days before and after a match, as well as during the course of the match itself as well.

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However, it also has a clause that Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key could relax the rule if they feel it fit to do so. The head coach has chosen to do that after England’s win in the 5th T20I against India in Southampton that saw them claim the No.1 spot in the ICC team rankings as well.

“For a start, there’s not many of our guys that actually drink, but anyone that wants a beer can have a beer, yes,” McCullum said. “The guidelines are in place. People are very aware of the guidelines. They’ve been sent around. The policy is designed to make sure that people are being looked after and making the right decisions.”

“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. But everyone’s very aware of it [the guidelines] 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,” he concluded.