ECB investigates Brydon Carse 'nightclub incident'

After a video of England fast bowler Brydon Carse being led out of a Derby nightclub on Saturday in handcuffs by police surfaced, the ECB launched an investigation. It is the latest embarrassing off-field episode involving an England cricketer over the past 12 months and will raise further questions about the team's relationship with alcohol.

Carse was included in England's squad for their first two Test matches against Pakistan, but he was left out to play for Durham in the County Championship after not making the final XI. He was out celebrating with teammates when the incident occurred, scoring 26 runs and going 2 for 82 in Durham's three-day win over Derbyshire.

On Sunday, a brief video of Carse was shared on social media and later published by the Telegraph. It depicts Carse conversing with Durham teammate Matthew Potts while surrounded by police officers and in handcuffs. The video also features Ben Stokes, an ex-captain of England who bowled Durham to victory on Saturday.

"We are aware of an incident that is reported to have taken place in Derby last night, and are currently investigating," the ECB stated on Sunday. When we can, we will provide additional information." The Derbyshire Constabulary was contacted for comment, and Durham declined to comment.

Carse was England's leading wicket-taker in last winter's Ashes series but has not yet played an international match this summer. He missed the New Zealand series with wrist and elbow injuries and was a late addition to the ODI squad against India, but was named in the Test squad after proving his fitness playing for Sunrisers Leeds in the Hundred.

He was due to link back up with the Test squad in London on Monday, ahead of two training days at Lord's leading into Thursday's second Test against Pakistan, though his involvement could now be in some doubt.

Carse was not on international duty at the time but is a centrally-contracted player, and the timing is hugely embarrassing for the ECB. The incident means that questions about curfews and players' relationships with alcohol will continue to be asked throughout the summer of Tests, which will distract from England's innings victory at Headingley.

Stokes and Gus Atkinson were both suspended pending an investigation into their celebrations following England's first Test of the summer against New Zealand, which later cleared them of any involvement in violent conduct at a nightclub but saw them given written warnings after breaching "specific contractual obligations".

England's managing director, Rob Key, denied that the team was "a national embarrassment" after that incident, but he did give players updated advice on how much alcohol they should drink, which Brendon McCullum immediately ignored after the T20I series win over India.

The ECB's handling of Stokes' night out has been suggested as a factor in his decision to retire from international cricket. Speaking on a podcast this month, he denied that the England team had a drinking problem but said that "cricket has a culture that is associated with alcohol" more generally.

Joe Root's first move in his second Test captaincy after taking over from Stokes was to end England's midnight curfew, stating that he trusted his players to behave like "grown adults" off the field. This latest incident means that he will be asked another wave of questions about team culture in the build-up to the second Test at Lord's.