Former England spinner Graeme Swann has come out strongly in support of England Test captain Ben Stokes following the controversy that has rocked the national side during the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. Swann believes Stokes has been unfairly criticised and insists the real issue lies with England’s controversial midnight curfew policy rather than the captain’s actions.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped from England’s squad for the second Test after reportedly breaching team curfew regulations following England’s victory in the opening Test at Lord’s. The pair were involved in a nightclub altercation with Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa, prompting the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to launch an investigation into the incident.

With the inquiry still ongoing, uncertainty continues to surround Stokes’ future as England captain. Reports have even suggested that the all-rounder considered stepping away from international cricket, although no official decision has been made regarding his leadership role.

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Speaking to PTI, Graeme Swann questioned the logic behind imposing strict curfew rules on professional cricketers, especially after major victories. The former spinner described the policy as unnecessary and argued that players should be allowed to celebrate important Test wins. “My thoughts are very mixed on this. The fact that there’s a curfew put in place is ridiculous. You will never convince me that a curfew is a good thing,” Swann said.

The curfew was introduced following England’s difficult 2025-26 Ashes campaign, when concerns emerged over the team’s drinking culture. Several players drew unwanted attention for late-night outings, prompting the ECB to tighten off-field regulations to improve the team’s public image.

However, Swann believes the policy has backfired. He also criticised individuals who recorded and shared videos of England players during private celebrations, claiming many were motivated by the opportunity to sell footage to media outlets.

“I don’t think Ben Stokes has done anything wrong here other than breaking a rule that shouldn’t have been implemented in the first place,” Graeme Swann added. “He celebrated winning a Test match. I have no issue with that whatsoever.”

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Swann further stressed that England cannot afford to lose Stokes as captain. He described the all-rounder as one of the finest leaders in England’s cricket history and warned that replacing his influence, leadership, and all-round abilities would be an extremely difficult task for the team moving forward.