England’s pace attack has suffered another setback ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, as fast bowler Brydon Carse has been removed from the squad following a night‑out incident in Derby that is now under investigation by the Cricket Regulator. The decision was confirmed on Thursday, just hours before the match was due to begin, and it means Carse will not be available for selection while the inquiry proceeds.
The controversy erupted after video footage surfaced showing Carse in handcuffs, being escorted by police officers on Saturday night. The clip was taken outside a nightclub in Derby city centre, where Durham players had been celebrating a County Championship victory over Derbyshire. In the footage Carse can be seen speaking with teammate Matthew Potts, while former England captain Ben Stokes appears in the background. The scene quickly went viral, prompting a statement from Derbyshire Police.
The force said a man in his thirties was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, but was released shortly thereafter after agreeing to leave the area. In response, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a brief statement confirming that, following a referral from the board, the Cricket Regulator would examine the events of that evening. The regulator’s findings will determine whether any further action is required, but for now Carse has been deemed unavailable for the upcoming Rothesay Test.
The ECB’s wording emphasized that the decision was taken "while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained," underscoring the seriousness with which the governing body is treating the matter. Carse’s omission from the squad comes at a delicate time for England.
The team is currently engaged in a two‑match series against Pakistan, having secured a dominant three‑day victory in the first Test at Headingley. Carse was not selected for that match and was subsequently released to play for Durham against Derbyshire, where he claimed two wickets and contributed 26 runs with the bat. Earlier in his career, Carse was England’s leading wicket‑taker during the 4‑1 Ashes triumph, but injuries have kept him out of the side for an extended period.
Sonny Baker, who made his Test debut against New Zealand at the Kia Oval in June, has been called up to replace Carse in the squad. Baker’s inclusion adds a fresh face to the pace department, but the loss of Carse’s experience will be felt, especially given the challenging conditions at Lord’s, where swing and seam can be decisive. The incident also revives a broader conversation about player discipline and alcohol consumption within the England camp. Less than two weeks ago, new captain Joe Root announced the removal of a midnight curfew that had been imposed after a series of drink‑related incidents on overseas tours to New Zealand and Australia.
Root’s decision was framed as a call for players to "be adults" and manage their own behaviour, but the Carse episode suggests that the issue remains unresolved. England has already dealt with several off‑field controversies in recent months. White‑ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer before a One‑Day International in New Zealand last autumn.
During the Ashes, an unverified video appeared to show batsman Ben Duckett appearing intoxicated while the team was on a break in the Australian beach resort of Noosa. More recently, both Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson missed a Test against New Zealand after breaching the curfew to attend a Chelsea nightclub celebration following a Lord’s victory.
While they escaped formal sanctions beyond written warnings, the incidents highlighted the tension between team rules and players’ personal freedoms. Stuart Broad, now a Sky Sports pundit, weighed in on the Carse situation during his "For the Love of Cricket" podcast. Broad described the episode as "pretty daft" and cautioned against jumping to conclusions, noting that the exact timing of the incident – whether it occurred at 10 p.m. or in the early hours – remains unclear.
He added that the matter is not one the England camp wishes to discuss extensively, reflecting a broader desire to move past such distractions. The second Test between England and Pakistan is set to kick off at 10 a.m.
(11 a.m. first ball) on Thursday, with live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can also stream the match via NOW. The day’s start times are listed as 11 a.m.
for the UK and Ireland, ensuring a wide audience can follow the action. In summary, Brydon Carse’s removal from the Lord’s squad underscores the ongoing challenges England faces in balancing player conduct with performance expectations. While the Cricket Regulator’s investigation proceeds, the team must adapt quickly, relying on newcomers like Sonny Baker and the seasoned core to maintain their momentum in the series. The incident also serves as a reminder that off‑field behaviour continues to be a focal point for the England management, especially after the recent relaxation of curfew rules.
As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on how the side copes with yet another unexpected hurdle and whether the broader cultural shift around player discipline will bear fruit in the coming months.