England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been dropped from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s after a late-night incident outside a Derby nightclub. The Cricket Regulator is now investigating the events of 22 August, leaving the 31-year-old unavailable for selection while the full facts are established. Carse had been released from England’s first-Test squad to play for Durham in the County Championship. He contributed to a dominant three-day victory over Derbyshire which finished on Saturday. That evening, Durham players headed out to celebrate. Video footage that later circulated on social media showed Carse outside Molly Malone’s Irish Tavern in Derby city centre, his hands cuffed behind his back and surrounded by police officers.
Durham team-mate Matthew Potts was seen speaking with him, while former England captain Ben Stokes appeared in the background. Derbyshire Police confirmed a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in the city centre that night. He was let go off shortly afterwards after agreeing to leave the area. No charges were brought. Reports suggest Carse may have been denied re-entry following an exchange involving a spilled drink, though the precise trigger remains under review.
Sonny Baker called up as replacement for Carse
The England and Wales Cricket Board referred the matter to the independent Cricket Regulator on Sunday. On Monday the ECB announced Carse would no longer be available for the second Rothesay Test, which begins on Thursday. Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker has been called up as replacement. The timing is a bit awkward with Test captain Joe Root publicly urging players only days earlier to be really good role models and human beings. Carse becomes the third England player this summer to miss a Test through disciplinary issues linked to off-field behaviour.
Earlier investigations into Stokes and Gus Atkinson after a separate nightclub episode produced no formal breaches, yet the pattern continues to attract scrutiny. Carse is a centrally contracted player and was due to rejoin the England group in London on Monday for training ahead of Lord’s. Instead he will wait on the Regulator’s findings. Durham declined to comment while the process continues. The right arm pacer has taken 58 Test wickets and was England’s leading wicket-taker during the last Ashes series. The second Test against Pakistan starts on 27th August.
