Joe Root made a spectacular return to the England Test following a huge victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley, but the celebrations were soon overshadowed by another off-field controversy involving one of his teammates. Pacer Brydon Carse was under the spotlight after footage emerged showing him being handcuffed and escorted by police outside a bar in Derby on Saturday night.
The incident took place after Durham’s players had gone out to celebrate their County Championship victory over Derbyshire. Carse was, meanwhile, removed from England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan. Speaking on the incident, Root did not hide his disappointment, admitting that he was “really hacked off” by the repeated mistakes his teammates were making off the field.
"If I'm being brutally honest, I'm really hacked off. I'm really disappointed that after last week's performance we are sat here and we're talking about something not related to it at all,” Root said at a press conference.
Root said he had spoken to Carse, who, according to Root, has been very upset following the incident. Meanwhile, Carse has been replaced by Sonny Baker in England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan, starting on Thursday at Lord’s.
"In terms of the incident itself, obviously with the regulator, there's not a lot I can say on it. It's in their hands now. I’ve spoken to Brydon when I first found out; my first concern was for him as a person. In my time in the dressing room, you obviously develop personal relationships with players."
"I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say he's been very upset and has been very apologetic and understands his actions. I'm sure when he gets his chance, he will say that himself. It's not the isolated incident itself, it's the fact that we continually keep making stupid mistakes away from the game, and it's detracting from what we're doing on the field," he said.