Brydon Carse has been stood down from England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan following an incident in Derby last weekend, with the matter referred to the independent Cricket Regulator for investigation.
Carse, 31, was released from the England setup to play for Durham in the County Championship, where he celebrated the team’s victory over Derbyshire on Saturday night. However, footage later emerged showing him surrounded by police officers and being led away from what is believed to be Molly Malone’s Irish Tavern in Derby city centre.
Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed that a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in the city centre on Saturday evening but was subsequently de-arrested after agreeing to leave the area. While Carse is understood to be the individual involved, his Durham teammates Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts also appear in the video, though neither player faces any allegations of misconduct.
The ECB announced on Sunday that it would launch its own investigation and referred the case to the Cricket Regulator. In a statement issued Monday, the governing body confirmed that Carse would be replaced in the Test squad by Hampshire’s Sonny Baker for the upcoming match at Lord’s.
“Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator has confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby,” the ECB said. “Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the second men’s Test while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained. He will be replaced in the squad by Sonny Baker.”
The episode marks another off-field controversy involving England cricketers in recent months. Last week, Joe Root defended the squad’s conduct after it was revealed that the team’s midnight curfew had been relaxed, stating that players should be trusted to behave like “grown adults.” The relaxation of disciplinary measures has come under renewed scrutiny following Carse’s removal.
Other recent incidents include Harry Brook being fined after an altercation with security at a nightclub in Wellington, New Zealand, while off-field concerns about alcohol use continued to surface throughout the previous winter tour of Australia. More recently, both Stokes and Gus Atkinson were temporarily suspended pending an investigation into their conduct following celebrations after England’s first Test against New Zealand this summer. Although cleared of any violent behavior, both received written warnings for breaching contractual obligations.
In response to earlier incidents, Rob Key, England’s managing director, had emphasized the need for improved player conduct and introduced updated guidelines regarding alcohol consumption. However, these measures were quickly waived by former captain Brendon McCullum following a T20I series win over India and have since been effectively overridden by Root, who assumed the Test captaincy earlier this year.
Carse made his Test debut in late 2024 after serving a ban for placing 303 bets on cricket matches between 2017 and 2019—an offense that violates the sport’s strict integrity regulations. Despite not participating in the matches he wagered on, he accepted a suspension and missed much of the previous season.
England’s squad is scheduled to convene in London on Monday ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, which begins on Thursday. The team currently leads the series 1-0 after securing an innings and 103-run victory within three days at Headingley.
1454 GMT – Story updated to include the Derbyshire Constabulary’s official statement.
