England’s pace attack has suffered another blow as fast bowler Brydon Carse was removed from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's. The decision follows a police incident that took place outside a nightclub in Derby on Saturday night, an episode now under investigation by the Cricket Regulator. Footage that surfaced online shows Carse, handcuffed, being escorted by police officers after the Derbyshire County Cricket Club players had gone out to celebrate a recent County Championship victory. In the video Carse can be heard speaking with teammate Matthew Potts, while former England captain Ben Stokes is visible in the background, indicating that several members of the England group were present at the venue.
The England side named for the match includes captain Joe Root, along with Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue. With Carse out, the squad has turned to Sonny Baker – who earned his Test debut against New Zealand at the Kia Oval in June – to fill the vacant seamer slot. The second Test will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, with the first ball scheduled for 11:00 a.m. UK time on Thursday.
The match will also be streamed via the NOW platform for viewers without a traditional TV contract. Derbyshire Police released a statement confirming that a man in his thirties was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in the city centre on the night of August 22. The statement added that the individual was released shortly thereafter after agreeing to leave the area, suggesting that the arrest was brief and possibly resolved without formal charges. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued its own response, noting that after a referral from the board, the Cricket Regulator would conduct a formal inquiry into the events of that evening.
The regulator’s findings will determine whether any further disciplinary action is warranted. In the meantime, Carse has been deemed unavailable for selection while the investigation proceeds and the full facts are gathered. Carse’s exclusion comes just weeks after England captain Joe Root lifted a strict midnight curfew that had been imposed following a series of alcohol‑related incidents on overseas tours earlier in the year.
The curfew, introduced after disciplinary problems on the New Zealand and Australia tours, had been intended to curb off‑field misconduct and ensure players remained focused on their cricketing responsibilities. Prior to this incident, Carse had not featured in the England XI for the opening Test at Headingley, a match that ended in a dominant three‑day victory for the hosts. After being left out, he returned to Durham for a County Championship fixture 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 whitewash, but injuries have kept him out of the national side for an extended period.
The nightclub episode adds to a growing list of off‑field controversies that the England team has had to manage. In the past, white‑ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer in New Zealand ahead of a one‑day international last autumn. During the Ashes series, an unverified video appeared to show batsman Ben Duckett appearing intoxicated while the squad was on a break in the beach resort of Noosa. More recently, both Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test of the home series against New Zealand after breaching the curfew to attend a Chelsea nightclub celebration following a victory at Lord’s.
While they avoided criminal charges, the ECB issued written warnings for violating specific contractual obligations. Root has repeatedly urged his teammates to "behave like adults" and to take personal responsibility for their actions. The Carse incident, therefore, raises fresh questions about the effectiveness of the curfew policy and the broader culture surrounding alcohol within the England camp. It also puts additional pressure on the team management to balance disciplinary measures with the need to maintain a cohesive, focused unit ahead of a high‑stakes Test match.
Former England bowler and Sky Sports pundit Stuart Broad commented on the situation during his "For the Love of Cricket" podcast. Broad described the incident as "pretty daft" and emphasized that the full details were still unclear, noting that the timing of the event could have been anywhere from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
He added that the episode was not something the team wanted to discuss publicly, underscoring the desire to move past off‑field distractions. As the investigation unfolds, the England camp will have to adapt quickly. With Carse unavailable, the bowling attack will rely on the experience of Archer and Atkinson, the youth of Baker and the all‑round capabilities of players like Brook and Root. The upcoming Test at Lord's will not only test England’s technical skill against a strong Pakistani side but also their ability to manage squad dynamics amid ongoing scrutiny.
Fans can follow the live action on Sky Sports channels or stream the match via the NOW service. For those without a subscription, alternative streaming options may become available as the broadcast rights evolve. The ECB has encouraged supporters to watch responsibly and to respect any ongoing investigations into player conduct.
Overall, the Carse incident serves as a reminder that professional athletes operate under intense public scrutiny, and that off‑field behavior can have immediate repercussions on selection and team performance. The coming days will reveal whether the Cricket Regulator’s inquiry leads to further sanctions, and how England’s leadership will address the broader issue of player discipline moving forward.