England drops Brydon Carse from second Pakistan test after police incident in Derby
Fast bowler Brydon Carse has been withdrawn from the squad for the second test against Pakistan at Lord's following an inquiry into a late-night incident in Derby, with Sonny Baker named as his replacement.
Disturbance outside Derby venue
England fast bowler Brydon Carse was temporarily detained in handcuffs outside Molly Malone's Tavern in Derby on the night of 22 August 2026, prompting an investigation by cricket authorities. The 31-year-old Durham cricketer had been celebrating his county side's victory over Derbyshire in the County Championship earlier that day. Video footage recorded by a member of the public showed Carse in handcuffs being questioned by police officers for several minutes after he was reportedly refused re-entry following an exchange of words inside over a spilled drink. Police did not arrest Carse, and no criminal charges were brought against him. Teammate Matthew Potts was seen in the footage conversing with security personnel and police officers, while former England test captain Ben Stokes was present in the background.
Squad withdrawal and disciplinary review
On 24 August 2026, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that Carse had been withdrawn from selection for the second test match against Pakistan at Lord's. Carse had been released from the national squad during the opening test in Leeds to play for Durham and was scheduled to convene with the 15-man squad in London on Monday afternoon ahead of the match on Thursday. The national governing body referred the case to the Cricket Regulator, an independent disciplinary body that investigates alleged breaches of ECB regulations, with potential outcomes ranging from no further action to a caution or formal charge. To fill the vacancy, England called up fast bowler Sonny Baker.
The ECB confirmed the administrative decision in an official statement on Monday.
Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the second men's test while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained.
- Harry Brook is fined £30,000 following an altercation in Wellington during the New Zealand tour.
- Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson are omitted from the second New Zealand test over a Chelsea nightclub incident.
- Brydon Carse is questioned in handcuffs outside a Derby venue following a Durham county match.
- The ECB withdraws Carse from the second test squad against Pakistan and calls up Sonny Baker.
- The second test between England and Pakistan begins at Lord's.
Curfew policy and team leadership
The incident occurred less than two weeks after newly reinstated test captain Joe Root rescinded the team's mandatory midnight curfew and accompanying drinking regulations. England managing director Rob Key had instituted the curfew following alcohol-related controversies during the winter tours of New Zealand and Australia, where England suffered a 4–1 Ashes defeat. Root, who assumed the captaincy for a second spell following Stokes's retirement during the New Zealand series and the subsequent dismissal of head coach Brendon McCullum, had urged players to act responsibly as adults and serve as role models.
Prior disciplinary issues in English cricket
The inquiry into Carse is the latest in a sequence of off-field controversies involving centrally contracted England cricketers over the past ten months. More than a quarter of England's 30 centrally contracted men have been involved in similar incidents since late 2025. Batter Harry Brook received a £30,000 fine following an altercation in Wellington, while opening batter Ben Duckett faced scrutiny during a mid-Ashes trip to Noosa. In June 2026, Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were left out of the second test against New Zealand following an altercation at a Chelsea nightclub, though the Cricket Regulator eventually concluded that evidence was insufficient to establish a regulatory breach. England currently holds a 1–0 lead in the three-match series against Pakistan following an innings victory at Headingley.
