Root ‘hacked off’ by England cricket team after police handcuff Carse

What the report says

England captain Joe Root has voiced frustration after Brydon Carse was left out of the squad for the second Test against Pakistan and referred to the Cricket Regulator following a reported off-field incident in Derby. According to Al Jazeera’s reporting, social media videos appeared to show the fast bowler being led away by police in handcuffs after a nightclub incident on Saturday. The match is set to begin at Lord’s on Thursday.

Root, speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, said he was disappointed that England’s strong on-field performance had been overshadowed by another disciplinary matter. He said the team kept making “stupid mistakes” away from cricket, which was distracting from the team’s work in the middle.

The report says the episode fits into a wider pattern of alcohol-related controversies involving England players over the past year. It cites earlier incidents involving Harry Brook in Wellington, Ben Duckett during the Ashes tour, and Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson after a London nightclub incident. Stokes later returned to Test cricket as captain after briefly stepping away from international cricket.

Root said he would not impose a curfew, arguing that culture change needs to be broader and player-driven. He said England are discussing expectations within the squad and want to build a team identity that supporters can be proud of. The situation matters because it raises questions about discipline, leadership and England’s off-field standards during an important Test series.