England fast bowler Josh Tongue has affirmed that captain Joe Root's recent message regarding player conduct has been fully received by the squad. Root had expressed frustration after Brydon Carse became the latest England cricketer involved in a late-night drinking controversy.
Carse was removed from the England squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's after being briefly arrested during a night out in Derby on Saturday. Footage of the incident, showing Carse in handcuffs, circulated on social media. Although he was de-arrested, the England and Wales Cricket Board referred the matter to the Cricket Regulator, whose investigation led to Carse's exclusion from the team for the upcoming match.
This incident marks the latest in a series of off-field controversies to affect the England men's team in the past 10 months. Prior to the first Test of his second tenure as captain, Root had urged his players to be exemplary role models. This week, he did not conceal his dissatisfaction with what he described as "stupid mistakes."
Tongue told BBC Sport that Root delivered a direct and necessary address to the squad before training for the second Test. "It was a chat that was needed, a very good chat from Rooty," Tongue said. "He was very clear on the message of what it is like to be an England cricketer. We're very privileged to put on that England shirt and we want to show kids growing up how good it is to play for England in front of thousands of people."
When asked if Root's message had been understood, Tongue, who plays for Nottinghamshire, responded: "Yeah, 100%. What has happened in the past is the past and we need to try to move on from that."