England drop Carse following club incident inquiry
England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been dropped from the squad for the second test against Pakistan following an investigation into an incident at a club in Derby, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.
“Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator has confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby,” the ECB said in a statement.
“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.”
Carse, who did not play in the opening test victory at Headingley, will be replaced by Sonny Baker.
Videos circulated on social media appearing to show the 31-year-old Durham bowler in handcuffs being spoken to by police officers outside a venue. According to reports, Carse was not arrested and no charges were brought.
It has been a busy summer for England’s Cricket Regulator, the body set up to investigate matters where there is an allegation of a breach of the ECB’s code of conduct.
In June it concluded an investigation into former test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson after a nightclub incident following the first test against New Zealand.
Both were left out of the second test before the Regulator ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred.
The latest investigation comes five days after England’s returning test captain Joe Root spoke of the players being “really good role models and human beings” following a series of incidents and accusations of a drinking culture.
Controversy has followed England around in recent times with off-field issues during last winter’s tours, including Harry Brook being fined £30,000 ($41,000) following an altercation in Wellington as well as reports of drinking during a mid-Ashes series trip to Noosa.
Stokes retired from international cricket after returning for the third test against New Zealand and Brendon McCullum was sacked as test coach.