'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol issue however players "require to understand the time to have a beverage and the time not to", says previous England captain Alec Stewart.


Discussion around drinking dominated this winter season's Ashes series in Australia with the behaviour of England's players greatly scrutinised throughout their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.


The England and Wales Cricket Board examined reports of gamers consuming excessively during a mid-series journey to Noosa, while white-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer the night before a one-day match in New Zealand in November.


"Alcohol will not improve anybody's performance so this is why the education is so important," said Stewart, presently director of cricket at Surrey.


"People aren't going to simply live like monks and be entirely teetotal, however people need to comprehend the time to have a beverage and the time not to.


"The greater level you are, the more scrutiny you're under and for that reason the sacrifices are greater and therefore be really selective in what you take into your body, whether that is food, whether that is drink or whatever."


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Stewart was speaking after being revealed as the brand-new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which offers assistance to current and former gamers and their families around their health and wellness.


He was likewise recommended as a potential candidate to replace England's handling director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be given the chance to enhance England's fortunes.


Selector Luke Wright left his position after the Ashes and is yet to be replaced.


The charity has actually released a new report to describe its work, consisting of supplying psychological health assistance to 239 existing and previous professional cricketers over the previous 5 years. There has actually been a 33% boost in therapy sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report recommendations 8 cases of gamers entering into "residential rehabilitation" - receiving treatment in expert facilities at which they can stay for a duration of time supported financially by the trust - for various concerns consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, gaming and substance abuse.


Speaking about the prominent discussion around alcohol this winter, former batter Ian Thomas who now works at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee said: "We've continued to strive on the education front.


"It's something that's in everyday life in society, but there is a responsibility for athletes and cricketers to make the right choices at the ideal times which's what our education was about.


"We're still going to have people make the wrong options and we're still going to have human error.


"The most significant part for us if that does occur is that we're able to choose them up."


The report says over half of the problems affecting gamers associate with low mood, anxiety and emotional assistance.


"We have actually got to make sure the assistance mechanisms are in place which people are not scared to actually put a hand up and say I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.


"It's always existed. It always will be there due to the fact that it's such a result-based service. This is where you've got to get the balance."


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