Derbyshire Police have closed their investigation into England seamer Brydon Carse regarding an incident at a nightclub in August, confirming no criminal charges will be filed. While the police matter is resolved, Carse remains under a Cricket Regulator inquiry that could trigger a 13-month suspended ban from a previous betting violation.
The incident occurred on August 23 at Molly Malones nightclub in Derby. Derbyshire Police confirmed that a man was initially arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly before being de-arrested after providing his details. The force subsequently recorded the matter as a “sexual assault” in accordance with recording standards after a woman alleged she was touched inappropriately over her clothing.
“The woman confirmed that she did not want to make any complaint and, in line with her wishes, no further action was taken,” the police statement confirmed.
Cricket Regulator Scrutiny
The independent Cricket Regulator is currently assessing whether Carse’s conduct breached the ECB’s professional code of conduct. The outcome of this assessment is critical to Carse’s career; in June 2024, he received a 16-month ban for placing 303 bets on cricket matches between 2017 and 2019. While 13 months of that ban were suspended for two years, a new breach of conduct could see the Regulator activate that suspended sentence.
England Test captain Joe Root expressed his frustration following the initial reports of the incident. “If I’m being brutally honest I’m really hacked off. I’ve spoken to Brydon and when I first found out my first concern was him as a person,” Root said.
Head coach Brendon McCullum has also addressed the matter with the Durham bowler. “I’ve spoken to Carsey a lot and it’s the same message – you need to make good decisions off the field that allow you to be able to be the best version of yourself,” McCullum stated.
Series Status and Availability
Carse was excluded from the white-ball squad for the series against Sri Lanka, which begins on September 19, 2026. This follows England’s 3-0 Test series victory over Pakistan earlier in the summer. Although he has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing, his immediate international future depends on the findings of the Cricket Regulator.
The ECB has not provided a specific timeline for when the Regulator’s assessment will be finalized. Carse continues to be available for domestic selection with Durham, though his involvement with the national side remains paused pending the disciplinary outcome.
