Brydon Carse dropped from England Test squad after Derby nightclub arrest

England have removed pace bowler Brydon Carse from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan, following an arrest and de‑arrest on 22 August in Derby city centre. The move, announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), means Carse will not travel to Lord’s and gives 23‑year‑old Sonny Baker a place in the party.

The incident was captured on video that circulated on social media, showing Carse in handcuffs outside a bar. Derbyshire Police confirmed a man in his 30s was detained on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, then released after agreeing to leave the area. Their statement read:

Media additions

"A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Derby city centre on Saturday night, 22 August."

Derbyshire Police, via BBC Sport

Within hours the ECB referred the matter to the Cricket Regulator, which will decide whether a breach of the board’s conduct code occurred. The regulator’s remit includes issuing cautions, taking no further action, or charging a player.

“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,” the ECB said in a statement echoed by both the Bbc and Republicworld reports. “Brydon will be replaced in the squad for this match by Sonny Baker.”

Carse was not in the playing XI for the first Test, which England won by an innings at Headingley. He returned to Durham for the County Championship, helping the side to a Division Two victory the same evening his arrest was filmed. The timing – less than 48 hours before the squad’s scheduled departure for London – amplified the urgency of the ECB’s decision.

Off‑field turbulence becomes a recurring theme

Carse is the third England player this summer to miss a Test because of a disciplinary incident. In June, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were omitted after a member of England’s security staff was struck by a rugby player in a London nightclub. Both received written warnings after an investigation.

Earlier incidents that have drawn public scrutiny include:

• Harry Brook being punched by a bouncer outside a Wellington nightclub.
• Ben Duckett filmed appearing drunk during England’s Ashes holiday in Noosa.
• Stokes and Atkinson breaching a curfew introduced after a series of late‑night incidents.

Those events prompted then‑captain Joe Root to lift the curfew and soften alcohol‑consumption guidelines. Yet on the eve of the Pakistan series, Root reminded his side of their public responsibilities.

"You always want to represent your country in the best possible light. We might have fallen short of that on a few occasions in the recent past. The only thing we can do to rectify that is be really good role models, good human beings and put in really strong performances on the field."

Joe Root, England captain, via BBC Sport

Root’s remarks echo the board’s official stance: behaviour off the field remains a key selection criterion, and the regulator’s findings will directly inform any future disciplinary action.

Carse’s career under the microscope

Carse’s return to England’s fold follows a three‑month ban in 2024 for historical betting offences. Since his Test debut in October 2024, he has taken 58 wickets – more than any England bowler in that span – and has become a regular across formats. The Derby episode threatens a crucial period of his resurgence, as he was expected to serve as a backup to the four frontline seamers at Lord’s.

Sonny Baker, who earned his first Test cap in June against New Zealand, will step into Carse’s spot. While Baker’s experience at the highest level is limited, the ECB’s decision signals a willingness to give younger talent a chance amid the disciplinary shuffle.

Timeline of the Derby incident and ECB response

• 22 August, Saturday night – Carse is seen in handcuffs outside a Derby bar; police arrest and then de‑arrest him.
• 23 August – Video spreads on social media; Derbyshire Police issue a statement confirming the de‑arrest.
• 24 August – ECB releases a statement confirming referral to the Cricket Regulator and announces Carse’s removal from the squad.
• 24 August – Sonny Baker named as Carse’s replacement for the length