Fast bowler Brydon Carse has been ruled out of England’s upcoming second Test against Pakistan while the Cricket Regulator investigates a late-night incident outside a nightclub, adding to the team’s recent disciplinary concerns.
Video posted on social media showed Carse being handcuffed and escorted away by four police officers outside a nightclub in Derby, central England, on Saturday.
“Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator has confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.
“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.”
Footage shows Carse in conversation with Durham teammate Matthew Potts, while former England captain Ben Stokes is visible in the background.
Carse has not played for England in any format since the Ashes series ended in January. A hand injury derailed his start to 2026 and kept him out of the Indian Premier League.
He was also left out of last week’s first Test, which England won inside three days at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs.
The latest incident adds to a series of alcohol-related off-field issues that have troubled the England team since its difficult tours of New Zealand and Australia late last year.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said someone needs to receive a punishment severe enough to “send a shiver” through the England team and the wider program. He said it would make clear that misconduct or damage to the team’s reputation carries serious consequences.
“It’s the only punishment that will really hurt players,” Vaughan said.
Following multiple late-night incidents, including white-ball captain Harry Brook clashing with a bouncer in Wellington and footage showing intoxicated players during the 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia, a curfew was imposed on the team in January.
Brook was fined 30,000 pounds ($41,000) over the Wellington incident.
In June, Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke the curfew and were involved in an incident at a London nightclub. Both received written warnings and were stood down from the second Test against New Zealand.
Stokes then stunned the cricket world by announcing his retirement from international cricket during the third Test against New Zealand. Brendon McCullum was removed as England’s red-ball coach two weeks later.
Joe Root has since taken over as England Test captain for the second time in his career and said he would not reinstate the curfew.
The latest investigation comes just five days after Root, back in the captain’s role, described the players as “really good role models and human beings,” despite the run of incidents and claims of a drinking culture within the squad.
“My view on curfews is I don’t think they work, and if you want guys to take responsibility on the field, they’ve got to be able to feel they can be grown adults off it and make good, strong decisions off it,” Root said in an interview.
