'Cricketers Need To Understand Right Times To Drink'

ByMatthew Henry
BBC Sport Journalist


19 February 2026


Cricket does not have an alcohol issue but gamers "need to comprehend the time to have a drink and the time not to", says previous England captain Alec Stewart.


Discussion around drinking controlled this winter season's Ashes series in Australia with the behaviour of England's gamers heavily scrutinised during their 4-1 defeat in the Tests.


The England and Wales Cricket Board investigated reports of gamers drinking excessively throughout 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 essential," said Stewart, currently director of cricket at Surrey.


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


"The greater level you are, the more analysis you're under and for that reason the sacrifices are higher and for that reason be very 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 new president of the Cricketers' Trust charity, which supplies support to existing and previous gamers and their families around their health and health and wellbeing.


He was also suggested as a possible candidate to change England's managing director Rob Key, though Key is anticipated to be provided the chance to improve England's fortunes.


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


The charity has launched a brand-new report to outline its work, consisting of providing psychological health support to 239 current and former expert cricketers over the past 5 years. There has been a 33% boost in treatment sessions from 667 in 2024 to 889 in 2025.


The report references eight cases of gamers going into "residential rehab" - getting treatment in specialist facilities at which they can stay for an amount of time supported economically by the trust - for different problems consisting of to alcohol, anxiety, gaming and compound abuse.


Discussing the high-profile discussion around alcohol this winter, previous batter Ian Thomas who now operates at the Professional Cricketers' Association and is a Cricketers' Trust trustee stated: "We have actually to work hard on the education front.


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


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


"The biggest part for us if that does happen is that we're able to choose them up."


The report says majority of the issues affecting gamers relate to low mood, stress and anxiety and psychological support.


"We've got to make sure the assistance systems are in location and that individuals are not afraid to actually put a hand up and state I'm having a hard time," Stewart said.


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


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