Brydon Carse Dropped From England Squad After Arrest for Drunk and Disorderly
Brydon Carse has been removed from England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan after Derbyshire Police briefly arrested the 31-year-old pace bowler on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Derby city centre on Saturday night, August 22. The England and Wales Cricket Board referred the incident to the Cricket Regulator, prompting his immediate omission from the team ahead of the fixture at Lord’s.
The Arrest and Police Confirmation
Images appearing on social media on Sunday showed Carse in handcuffs outside a bar in Derby following a match. According to a statement issued by Derbyshire Police, officers arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly on Saturday night. The police confirmed that the individual was de-arrested shortly afterward upon agreeing to leave the area.
Before the incident, Carse had played for Durham away at Derbyshire in a Division Two fixture that concluded on Saturday evening. When England omitted him from the starting XI for the first Test against Pakistan—which the hosts won by an innings inside three days at Headingley—selectors released him to play for his county side. Following Durham’s victory, Carse remained in Derby, where the arrest occurred less than 48 hours before he was scheduled to travel to London to rejoin the national setup.
ECB Action and Squad Adjustments
Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator confirmed an investigation into the events in Derby. In response to the ongoing inquiry, the ECB announced that Carse is unavailable for selection for the second men’s Test while officials gather the full facts. Selectors recalled 23-year-old Sonny Baker to replace Carse in the squad. Baker previously earned his sole Test cap during the second match of the series against New Zealand in June.
Since making his Test debut in October 2024, Carse has claimed 58 wickets, the most of any England bowler during that span. This absence follows a previous three-month suspension Carse served in the summer of 2024 for historical betting offences, after which he successfully established himself as an England regular across formats.
Broader Disciplinary Context for England
This development marks the third instance this summer of an England player missing a Test due to a disciplinary issue. In June, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson missed the second Test against New Zealand after visiting a London nightclub where a security staff member was struck by a Saracens rugby player. Both players received written warnings for breaching a team curfew introduced following earlier winter incidents, which included Harry Brook being punched outside a Wellington nightclub and Ben Duckett filmed appearing intoxicated on an Ashes holiday in Noosa.
Upon succeeding Stokes as captain, Joe Root relaxed team guidelines regarding alcohol consumption and public appearances around matches. Speaking to BBC Sport on the eve of the first Test against Pakistan, Root emphasized team standards, stating players must act as strong role models and represent the country properly.
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