Derbyshire police are investigating an alleged assault in connection with the arrest of Brydon Carse last weekend, which led to the Durham fast bowler being dropped from the England squad for the second Test against Pakistan.
Carse was filmed by a member of the public in handcuffs outside Molly Malone’s Irish Tavern in Derby in the early hours of Sunday morning with several other Durham players, including the former England captain Ben Stokes, also present.
Derbyshire police confirmed on Monday that Carse had briefly been detained on suspicion of “being drunk and disorderly” before being “de-arrested”, but the Guardian has been told that their investigation remains live.
In a subsequent statement released on Wednesday, first reported by the Telegraph, Derbyshire police confirmed they are investigating allegations of assault. “We are investigating allegations of assault in Derby city centre,” the statement read. “No arrests have yet been made and the investigation is ongoing.”
It is unclear at this stage whether Carse had any involvement in the alleged assault, but the revelation that the arrest may have involved more than a row over a spilled drink will intensify the spotlight further on England’s cricketers following a torrid few months dominated by headlines involving late-night misbehaviour.
Eight England players including Stokes and the white-ball captain Harry Brook have been involved in alcohol-related incidents since last November, with the returning Test captain, Joe Root, admitting on Tuesday that he was “hacked off” by Carse’s arrest just days after he announced he was lifting a midnight curfew that had been imposed by management on England’s players because he believes they should be treated as adults.
As previously reported by the Guardian, the phone footage of Carse was filmed after he was denied re‑entry to the bar shortly before closing time at around 4am on Sunday morning.
The 31-year-old had left the building following “an exchange of words” with a member of the public who spilled a drink on him.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Monday that Carse would not be available to face Pakistan this week, after he was released from the squad from last week’s first Test victory at Headingley, which led to him playing for Durham against Derbyshire.
Carse will remain unavailable for England pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Cricket Regulator, but with the police still investigating that process has yet to begin so he could face a lengthy exile. He has been selected by Durham for Thursday’s home County Championship match with Gloucestershire.
Root expressed concern for Carse’s wellbeing at Lord’s on Tuesday, but made no attempt to hide his displeasure at the incident. “If I’m being brutally honest, I’m really hacked off, I’m really disappointed,” he said. “I’ve spoken to Brydon, and when I first found out my main concern was him as a person.
“I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn by saying he’s very upset, very apologetic and understands his actions. I’m sure that when he gets his chance he will say that himself.
“But I don’t think it’s the isolated incident itself, it’s the fact we keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it’s detracting from what we’re doing on the field.”
