England captain Joe Root has appealed to his teammates to "earn back the trust" of the British public as the team confronts yet another off‑field controversy that has dominated the build‑up to the second Test against Pakistan. Root was reinstated as captain for this series after the retirement of Ben Stokes, who stepped away from international cricket following his involvement in a separate off‑field incident during England's summer series loss to New Zealand. Root’s first match back in the role was a resounding success, with England securing a comprehensive victory at Headingley.
However, the celebration was quickly eclipsed when video footage surfaced showing fast‑bowler Brydon Carse being handcuffed and led away by police on a Saturday night. The incident occurred after Durham’s players had gone out to celebrate their County Championship win at Derbyshire. In the clip, Carse can be seen speaking with Durham teammate Matthew Potts, while former England star Ben Stokes appears in the background. The footage prompted an immediate response from the England management, and Carse was withdrawn from the squad for the second Test at Lord's, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday.
The Cricket Regulator has launched an investigation into the matter. Root, who admitted he felt "hacked off" by the latest controversy, tried to put a constructive spin on the situation.
He highlighted the chance for both himself and the newly appointed Test head coach Stephen Fleming to reshape public perception of the team. Speaking on Tuesday, Root said: "Clearly we're not portraying ourselves as we want to. We've got an opportunity to build a culture that is very strong and we can be proud of that's player‑driven. That's not going to happen overnight.
We've had conversations about what is expected from us, what it means and takes to play for England." He continued, "We want to create something we can be proud of, something supporters can look at and revere, not just for our on‑field exploits but for our conduct off the field as well. Over the next little while, as leader of this team, with Stephen and the group of players, we are creating something that is just that." The Carse episode is not 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 last autumn, an incident that sparked a debate about player safety and nightlife conduct.
During the ill‑fated Ashes tour, an unverified video appeared to show opener Ben Duckett appearing intoxicated while the squad was on a mid‑series break at the beach resort of Noosa. Moreover, Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test of the 2‑1 home defeat to New Zealand earlier this summer after breaching a curfew to attend a Chelsea nightclub celebration following a win at Lord's. While both were cleared of violent conduct, they received written warnings for violating specific contractual obligations. Root stressed the importance of aligning on‑field excellence with off‑field professionalism.
"We have a chance to build something that lives alongside what we achieved last week on the field. I thought it was a brilliant performance.
The way we played was exceptional. We have to align that with being exceptional off the field as well and understand what that looks like and how we want to represent ourselves and our nation," he said.
"With what we've got coming up, there are plenty of opportunities to do that. But like I say, it's not going to happen overnight; in many ways we're going to have to earn a lot of trust back. And that's something we're going to have to live and breathe consistently." England 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 sentiments.
Tongue told reporters on Wednesday, "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. He's been around the England dressing room for plenty of years now, he knows what it takes to be a top professional and we've just got to do the best we can moving forward." He added, "We've just got to make sure we're as professional as we can be.
Obviously things have happened and we need to try and move on from them to show all the youngsters growing up wanting to play for England that it's an amazing place to be. Playing for England is obviously a privilege.
We want to give the next generation the best environment possible." The only alteration to England's squad for the upcoming Test is the replacement of Carse with 23‑year‑old quick Sonny Baker, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in June. Baker's inclusion provides a fresh burst of pace and an opportunity for him to cement his place in the side. Root's call to "earn back trust" resonates beyond the immediate series.
It reflects a broader cultural shift within English cricket, where player behaviour, mental health, and community engagement are increasingly scrutinised. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has introduced stricter codes of conduct and educational programmes aimed at helping players navigate fame, media pressure, and personal responsibilities. These initiatives are designed to prevent future incidents like those involving Carse, Brook, Duckett, Stokes and Atkinson, and to foster a more holistic approach to player development.
As the second Test at Lord's approaches, the team faces a dual challenge: delivering a high‑quality performance against a talented Pakistani side and demonstrating that they can uphold the standards expected of national representatives. The match, set to kick off at 11 a.m.
UK time, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming available via NOW. Fans and pundits alike will be watching not only the cricket but also the team's conduct, hoping that Root's leadership and Fleming's coaching can steer England toward a more disciplined and respected future.