Harry Brook says Brydon Carse 'needs time away' from England

England white-ball captain Harry Brook has publicly addressed Brydon Carse's continued absence from international cricket, saying the Durham pace bowler requires time away from the England setup while he works through matters behind the scenes. Derbyshire Police confirmed on September 18, 2026, that their investigation into an alleged assault linked to the incident had been closed and that Carse, 31, would face no charges.

Although the police matter has been resolved, Carse remains subject to a separate inquiry by the independent Cricket Regulator. No formal ban has been imposed, and the ECB has indicated he is available for selection in principle, pending the outcome of that process. Carse has continued to represent Durham at county level throughout this period.

The Derby incident occurred during a night out with Durham team-mates. Carse was detained on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly but was released at the scene without charge. He was subsequently left out of England's squad for the third Test against Pakistan in September 2026 and was also omitted from the white-ball squad to face Sri Lanka.

What has England's management said about Carse's conduct?

White-ball head coach Brendon McCullum set a clear public standard for any Carse recall, calling on him to 'get his house in order' before returning to the England environment. McCullum has also challenged his limited-overs group to become the fittest, strongest, most dynamic and most robust cricket team in the world, placing physical and behavioural preparation at the centre of the side's ambitions. Ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Riverside Ground, Brook reinforced that message:

"We should all be role models to everybody in the world, on and off the field. Everybody is extremely aware of it now. The words Baz said the other day – we want to be one of the fittest and strongest teams in the world and to be able to do that we need to be preparing well on and off the field," Brook said, as quoted by The Independent.

New England Test head coach Stephen Fleming stated at the weekend that restoring behavioural standards would be as important as results going forward. The Derby episode has been described as part of a broader pattern of alcohol-related incidents involving England players.

What is Carse's England record and what happens next?

Before the Derby incident disrupted his international career, Carse had become a central figure in England's pace attack. He was the leading wicket-taker for England during their 4-1 Ashes defeat last winter, a series that marked a significant step forward in his Test career.

Carse missed the first half of the English domestic summer through injury, and the Derby matter then kept him out of subsequent England squads. He has not represented England in any format since the Ashes. The Cricket Regulator inquiry is the next confirmed procedural step, and its outcome will determine whether any further action follows.