LONDON, Aug. 25, 2026 (Reuters): England captain Joe Root said he was “extremely angry and disappointed” after fast bowler Brydon Carse was dropped from the squad for the second test against Pakistan following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby.

Carse, 31, was pictured in handcuffs outside a nightclub in Derby late on Saturday. Police confirmed that a man in his 30s had been arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly before being released after agreeing to leave the area.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has referred the incident to the independent Cricket Regulator for investigation.

“I’m really angry and disappointed,” Root told reporters ahead of the second test at Lord’s.

Root said the incident was particularly frustrating because England had just produced a dominant performance against Pakistan in the opening test.

“We’re sitting here after last week’s performance talking about something that has got nothing to do with cricket,” he said.

Root added that Carse was “very upset and embarrassed” and understood the seriousness of his actions.

However, Root said the issue went beyond the latest incident.

“I don’t think it’s just an isolated incident. The bigger thing is that we keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it is having an impact on our performances on the field,” he said.

Carse has been replaced in England’s squad by Sonny Baker for the second test. The ECB said Carse would remain unavailable while the investigation continued and until the facts of the incident were established.

England have faced a number of off-field incidents involving players in recent months.

White-ball captain Harry Brook was involved in an incident outside a nightclub in Wellington in October, while Ben Duckett was later seen appearing intoxicated during England’s Ashes tour in Australia.

Earlier this summer, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out of England’s second test against New Zealand while an investigation was conducted into an incident at a London nightclub. Both players later received written warnings.

Carse was part of England’s squad for the first test against Pakistan but did not play. He was released to represent Durham against Derbyshire in a county match, which Durham won on Saturday.

England won the opening test against Pakistan by an innings at Headingley inside three days to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The second test at Lord’s will provide England with an opportunity to strengthen their position in the series, but Root said the team must ensure off-field issues do not distract from their cricket.