Brydon Carse has been removed from England's squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on August 24, 2026. The decision comes as the independent Cricket Regulator investigates an incident that led to Carse being handcuffed by police outside a nightclub in Derby on Saturday.
Carse was quickly released without charge. Friends have indicated that the cricketer was celebrating Durham's county championship victory with teammates at the time of the incident. A video circulating on social media shows Carse being handcuffed in the presence of four police officers. Durham teammates Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts briefly appear in the footage.
Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker has been called up to the 16-man squad as Carse's replacement. Baker previously made his Test debut against New Zealand in June.
While Carse was not arrested and was not on official England duty at the time, he holds an ECB central contract. This incident follows a year marked by separate alcohol-related incidents involving England players Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, and Ben Stokes. The ECB has referred the matter to the Cricket Regulator for a full investigation.
An ECB statement confirmed Carse's unavailability for the upcoming Test match, stating, "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 Cricket Regulator has the authority to impose various sanctions, ranging from no further action to a caution or a charge for misconduct, including bringing the game into disrepute.