Carse dropped from England squad as ECB refers Derby incident to regulator

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that pace bowler Brydon Carse will not be available for selection for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s. The decision follows a referral to the Cricket Regulator to investigate an incident in Derby on Saturday night, which resulted in Carse being handcuffed by police outside a bar.

Carse, 31, was released without charge, although the specific reasons for his detention have not been confirmed. The incident occurred less than 48 hours before he was scheduled to join the England squad in London. In response, the ECB stated that the Regulator would investigate the events to obtain the full facts before Carse can be considered for selection again.

Sonny Baker, 23, has been named as Carse’s replacement for the match at Lord’s. Baker won his only Test cap in June during the series against New Zealand. Carse, who has taken 58 wickets since his Test debut in October 2024, was part of the squad for the first Test at Headingley, which England won by an innings and 103 runs. He had been released to play for Durham against Derbyshire on the same evening as the incident.

This development marks the third time this summer that an England player has missed a Test due to a disciplinary issue. The timing is significant given recent changes to team protocols under new captain Joe Root, who removed the midnight curfew and relaxed alcohol guidelines upon taking charge. Root previously called on his players to be “really good role models and good human beings” following a string of off-field incidents.

Former England captain Ben Stokes and Durham teammate Matthew Potts were also present at the venue in Derby. Both players, along with Carse, remain under central contracts with the ECB. Stokes, who has retired from international cricket, and Gus Atkinson previously missed a Test in June after a nightclub incident in London, though they were eventually given only a written warning.

The ECB’s move highlights the ongoing tension between relaxed player conduct rules and the need for institutional oversight. While Carse was expected to serve as a back-up to the frontline seamers rather than a starter, his removal underscores the regulatory framework now governing the national team’s off-field behaviour.