Brydon Carse removed from England Test squad after nightclub incident in Derby

England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been removed from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan, beginning on August 27 at Lord’s, London. Carse was reportedly involved in a nightclub incident while celebrating Durham’s win over Derbyshire in the County Championship.

He was briefly arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly outside a bar in Derby on August 22. He was released from the England squad to play for Durham after not being picked in the playing XI for the first Test against Pakistan in Leeds.

A video of Carse in handcuffs being surrounded by police officers went viral on Sunday, August 23. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it would investigate the incident and referred the matter to the independent Cricket Regulator.

The Regulator has since confirmed that it will also investigate Carse's behaviour. He won’t be available for selection until the investigation is complete and the facts of the incidents are obtained. As a result, he has been replaced with Sonny Baker in England's squad for the second Test.

"Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator have confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby. Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the second men's Rothesay Test match while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained. Brydon will be replaced in the squad for this match by Sonny Baker,” ECB said in a statement.

England's players' controversies in recent past

The incident is the latest in a series of off-field episodes involving England players over the past 12 months. First, Harry Brook got involved in an altercation with a bouncer while trying to enter a nightclub in New Zealand ahead of the third ODI against the Kiwis, played on November 1, 2025, in Wellington.

Later, during their mid-Ashes break in Noosa, several videos of players being heavily drunk circulated on social media. Matters only got worse after opening batter Ben Duckett was seen heavily intoxicated and slurring his words in a viral video. England’s director of cricket Rob Key acknowledged that some players’ conduct was unacceptable and launched an investigation into the trip.

Stokes and Atkinson's nightclub incident

Earlier in June, former England captain Ben Stokes and all-rounder Gus Atkinson were suspended for the second Test match against New Zealand played at the Oval. The duo was involved in another nightclub incident after breaking the team’s night curfew to celebrate their victory in the first Test at Lord’s.

Despite the history, England’s new Test captain Joe Root relaxed the team's midnight curfew and urged his team-mates to behave like "grown adults". However, Carse’s latest incident has again raised further questions on England players' conduct and their relationship with alcohol.