CAPTAINS ROOT & MORGAN SET UP A NEW CODE OF CONDUCT
JOE ROOT has instigated the drafting of a new code of conduct for England players in the wake of the Ben Stokes saga.
Root had set about the project with the help of whiteball captain Eoin Morgan prior to the verdict in Stokes’ trial.
The red and white ball captains were well aware of the impact of Stokes’ trial on the future of player behaviour.
And both agreed a midnight curfew in Australia, following further minor misdemeanours by their players.
Root has set about canvassing opinions from within the dressing room over just what a modern England code of conduct should look like. The template for the guidelines was an earlier work done in 2009 by Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower soon after they took over as captain and coach of a rudderless team shaken by the sackings of Kevin Pietersen (above) and Peter Moores.
It formed the basis of behaviour for a team that went on to be come the No.1 Test side in the world in 2011.
But many of its principles unravelled during the longrunning battle between the ECB and Pietersen that sucked in a number of other players.
Now Root is determined to re-establish an updated version that includes a section on the dressing-room culture and what it means to represent England.
Root has started to feel more comfortable as England captain this summer and Morgan is right behind his initiative.
There has been a huge amount of freedom around the England teams under coach Trevor Bayliss, with an emphasis on personal responsibility – but it has not worked for everyone.
As a result, Root hopes that a stronger set of guidelines, drawn up by the players, will be something they will all buy into.