Brydon Carse: Police investigating alleged assault in connection with nightclub incident involving England bowler
Derbyshire Police said on Wednesday it was investigating allegations of an assault in the city centre, but no arrests have yet been made
Wednesday 26 August 2026 23:41, UK
Derbyshire Police are looking into "allegations of assault" following the incident that saw England bowler Brydon Carse handcuffed outside a nightspot over the weekend.
Carse was removed from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which begins at Lord's on Thursday morning, after the Cricket Regulator initiated a probe into an episode that saw the Durham player briefly arrested outside a late bar in Derby - then de-arrested after agreeing to depart.
In an updated statement issued on Wednesday evening, Derbyshire Police said: "We are investigating allegations of assault in Derby city centre. No arrests have yet been made and the investigation is ongoing."
Further details are unknown, with no clarity over what part - if any - Carse had in the alleged assault.
The England and Wales Cricket Board declined to comment when contacted by the Press Association.
An initial statement from the force, released after a video clip of Carse apparently being detained by officers in the street, had said: "A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Derby city centre on Saturday night. However the man was de-arrested shortly afterwards having agreed to leave the area."
Former England captain Ben Stokes and centrally contracted seamer Matthew Potts both appeared in the footage, captured in the aftermath of their Durham's side's County Championship victory over Derbyshire, though there is no suggestion that either was involved in anything untoward.
Reacting to the incident, Stokes' replacement as Test skipper Joe Root spoke angrily about the latest in a growing line of alcohol-related issues which have swamped the team.
Root, who made a point of abolishing the midnight curfew which played a partial role in Stokes' exit following another controversial night out earlier this summer, said: "If I'm being brutally honest I'm really hacked off.
"I've spoken to Brydon and when I first found out my first concern was him as a person. I don't think I'm speaking out of turn in saying he's very upset, very apologetic and understands his actions. I'm sure when he gets his chance, he will say that himself.
"But it's not the isolated incident itself, it's the fact we continuously keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it's detracting from what we are doing on the field."
