England captain Joe Root says he is “hacked off” and “disappointed” at the incident involving fast bowler Brydon Carse at a Derby nightclub.
Carse, 31, was dropped from the squad for the second Test starting against Pakistan this week.
Images that appeared on social media on Sunday showed Carse, 31, in handcuffs outside a bar in Derby on Saturday night and he was briefly arrested and subsequently de-arrested.
“If I’m being brutally honest, I’m really hacked off, I’m really disappointed,” Root said in the opening to a news conference.
“After last week’s performance, we’re sat here and we’re talking about something that is not related to it at all.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has referred the incident to the Cricket Regulator and Carse was replaced in the squad by Sonny Baker, with the Test starting at Lord’s on Thursday.
Carse was not on England duty at the time of the incident as he was released to play for Durham, but he is a centrally contracted player.
Root also said that he had spoken to his England team-mate about the incident, and expressed his frustration at the “stupid mistakes” that are continually being made.
“I’ve spoken to Brydon, and when I first found out my main concern was him as a person,” Root added.
“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 that we keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it’s detracting from what we’re doing on the field.”
More to follow.
