A short video circulating on social media appears to show an England cricket player in handcuffs and being detained by several police officers outside of a busy nightspot
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says it is investigating a video that appears to show one of its centrally contracted players in handcuffs outside a busy nightspot.
Brydon Carse seems to be the player in question, with former England captain Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts also looking like they are present at the scene. All three were playing for Durham in their County Championship match against Derbyshire on Saturday.
That game ended around 7pm, with the visitors winning by 338 runs. Carse, Potts and Stokes combined to bowl out their hosts for 84 in a dismal second innings.
An ECB spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident which is reported to have taken place in Derby last night, and are currently investigating. We will provide a further update when possible.”
The Telegraph claims to have seen another video of Carse being taken away, standing with an officer and Stokes. They report that police briefly detained Carse, but did not arrest the bowler, who is said to have returned to the team hotel soon after.
Footage shows four police officers surrounding an individual who seems to be Carse. Potts appears to come over and speak to his team-mate.
Someone who looks like Stokes also looks over at the unfolding scene from the venue’s doorway while walking outside. The all-rounder was present at a nightclub with Gus Atkinson after the first Test against New Zealand earlier this summer.
Carse is in the England squad for their first two Tests against Pakistan. However, he was not selected for the series opener at Headingley this week.
As with all five players not in the XI, he was made available to play for his county, with Shoaib Bashir playing for Derbyshire in the same match. Lord’s hosts the second Test, starting on Thursday (27 August).
Carse has not played for England since the fifth Test of the Ashes in Australia last winter. He was England’s top wicket-taker Down Under and the only bowler to play in all five Tests.
The bowler was also present on the infamous mid-series trip to Noosa. So, too, were Potts and Stokes.
Carse missed England’s Test series against New Zealand after injuring his bowling hand in April during training before the Indian Premier League. He is on an ECB central contract until 30 September next year and has played 14 tests since his debut in October 2024 away in Pakistan.