England’s captain, Joe Root, has appealed to his teammates to "earn back the trust" of the country after yet another off‑field controversy has dominated the build‑up to the second Test against Pakistan. Root was reinstated as captain for this series following Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket, a decision that came after the former skipper became embroiled in a separate off‑field dispute during the summer series loss to New Zealand. Root’s return to the role began on a high note with a commanding victory at Headingley, but the celebration was quickly eclipsed when video footage surfaced showing fast‑bowler Brydon Carse being handcuffed and escorted by police on a Saturday night.
Carse, who had been part of the England squad for the first Test before being released to represent his county side, was seen in the clip speaking with Durham teammate Matthew Potts, with Stokes visible in the background. The incident occurred after Durham players went out to celebrate a County Championship win at Derbyshire.
In the wake of the footage, Carse was withdrawn from the squad for the second Test at Lord’s, and a Cricket Regulator investigation was launched. Root, who admitted feeling "hacked off" by the latest scandal, tried to turn the situation into a constructive narrative by highlighting the chance he and newly appointed Test head coach Stephen Fleming have to reshape public perception of the England side.
"Clearly we’re not portraying ourselves as we want to," Root said on Tuesday. "We have an opportunity to build a culture that is very strong and player‑driven, something we can be proud of." He emphasized that cultural change does not happen overnight. "We’ve had conversations about what is expected of us, what it means to play for England and what it takes to uphold that reputation," he continued.
Root’s remarks were interspersed with promotional calls to stream the England‑Pakistan match on NOW, listen to the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, and download the Sky Sports app, underscoring the commercial backdrop of modern cricket. Root’s vision extends beyond on‑field performance. "We want to create something that supporters can be proud of, not just for what we achieve on the pitch but also for how we conduct ourselves off it," he explained. He added that, together with Fleming and the group of players, they aim to forge a legacy that reflects both sporting excellence and exemplary behaviour.
The Carse episode is far from the first off‑field issue England has had to manage. Earlier, white‑ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer the night before a One‑Day International in New Zealand, an incident that attracted widespread media attention.
During the ill‑fated Ashes tour, an unverified video appeared to show opener Ben Duckett drinking heavily while the team was on a mid‑series break at the beach resort of Noosa. Moreover, Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test of a 2‑1 home series loss to New Zealand after breaching a curfew to celebrate a victory at Lord’s in a Chelsea nightclub. Although both were cleared of violent conduct, they received written warnings for violating specific contractual obligations. Root reiterated the importance of aligning on‑field success with off‑field standards.
"We delivered a brilliant performance last week; the way we played was exceptional. We now have to match that excellence off the field and understand how we want to represent ourselves and our nation," he said. He acknowledged that rebuilding trust will require consistent effort: "There are plenty of opportunities ahead, but it won’t happen overnight. We have to earn that trust back and live it every day." Fast bowler Josh Tongue, who is expected to retain his place in what is likely to be an unchanged XI at Lord’s, echoed Root’s expectations.
"We had a chat before training yesterday, as Joe said. It was a very good conversation and he made it clear what he expects from us," Tongue told reporters on Wednesday. He praised Root’s long‑standing presence in the England dressing room, noting that the captain knows what it takes to be a top professional.
"We just have to do the best we can moving forward and be as professional as possible," Tongue added. Tongue also addressed the broader impact on aspiring cricketers: "Obviously things have happened, and we need to move on from them to show the youngsters growing up wanting to play for England that it’s an amazing place to be. Playing for England is a privilege, and we want to give the next generation the best environment possible." The only alteration to England’s squad for the second Test is Carse’s replacement by 23‑year‑old quick Sonny Baker, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in June. All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with 11 am starts in the UK and Ireland, and the second Test will be streamed on NOW from 10 am Thursday (first ball at 11 am).
The team hopes that, by combining on‑field brilliance with disciplined conduct, they can restore the faith of fans and rebuild a culture that endures beyond a single series.