Pace bowler Brydon Carse has been withdrawn from England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan amid an ongoing investigation into an incident that resulted in his brief arrest.
Social media images surfaced on Sunday depicting the 31-year-old bowler in handcuffs outside a Derby bar on Saturday night.
Derbyshire Police confirmed that a man was arrested and later released without charge.
A police statement read: “A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Derby city centre on Saturday night, 22 August.”
“However, the man was de-arrested shortly after agreeing to leave the area,” the statement added.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has referred the matter to the Cricket Regulator for investigation.
As a result of the impending investigation, Carse has been removed from the squad and replaced by Sonny Baker.
This marks the latest in a series of off-field incidents affecting the England team, with Carse becoming the third player this summer to miss a Test match due to disciplinary concerns.
An ECB statement noted: “Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator has confirmed it will investigate the events that transpired in Derby on Saturday night.”
“Brydon Carse will not be available for selection in the second men’s Test while the investigation is underway and all facts are established,” the statement continued.
Carse was included in England’s squad for the first Test against Pakistan, which the hosts won by an innings within three days at Headingley.
After being omitted from the starting XI, Carse was made available to play for Durham in their away match against Derbyshire, which the Division Two leaders won on Saturday evening.
Following Durham’s victory, Carse was filmed in handcuffs outside a bar in Derby. The incident occurred less than 48 hours before he was scheduled to arrive in London to join the England squad for the second Test at Lord’s.
The footage also featured Carse’s Durham teammate Matthew Potts, with former England captain Ben Stokes visible in the background. Although Stokes has retired from international cricket, he remains under a central ECB contract, as do Potts and Carse.
In June, Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a London nightclub when a member of England’s security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.
Both players missed the second Test against New Zealand during the investigation and subsequently received written warnings regarding their conduct.
Stokes and Atkinson violated an England team curfew implemented after a series of late-night incidents during the winter.
Harry Brook was assaulted by a bouncer outside a Wellington nightclub, while Ben Duckett was filmed appearing intoxicated during England’s Ashes holiday in Noosa.
Upon succeeding Stokes as England captain, Joe Root initiated his second tenure by abolishing the curfew. Guidelines governing alcohol consumption around matches and in public were also relaxed.
On the eve of the first Test against Pakistan, Root urged his players to embody the ideals of being “really good role models and good human beings”.
“You always want to represent your country in the best possible light,” Root told BBC Sport.
“We may have fallen short of this standard on occasion in the recent past. The only path to improvement lies in committing to be exemplary role models, upstanding human beings, and delivering strong performances on the field,” he added.
In the summer of 2024, Carse received a three-month suspension for historical betting violations.
He has since rebuilt his career to establish himself as a regular across all formats for England. Since his Test debut in October 2024, no England bowler has surpassed his tally of 58 wickets.
It is improbable that Carse would have featured at Lord’s, as he would likely have served as a backup to England’s four frontline seamers selected from Headingley.
His omission opens the door for 23-year-old Sonny Baker, who earned his sole Test cap in the second match of the series against New Zealand in June.
.jpeg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Why Consistent Scoring Is Essential for Rishabh Pant in Test Cricket")
