Joe Root 'hacked off' after Carse incident mars Lord's Test build-up

England cricket captain Joe Root expressed anger and disappointment over the incident involving fast bowler Brydon Carse that occurred at a Derby nightclub. Carse, 31, was dropped from the squad for the upcoming Test against Pakistan due to his actions. In an opening statement at a press conference, Root stated that he was "hacked off" and "disappointed," emphasizing that the incident is unrelated to their recent poor performance.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has referred the matter to the Cricket Regulator, leading to Carse's replacement in the squad by Sonny Baker.

Root also mentioned speaking with Carse, noting that the player was upset, apologetic, and understood his actions. Root highlighted that repeated mistakes away from the game are detracting from the team's performance on the field. This incident marks the eighth late-night issue involving a contracted player in the past year, accounting for over a quarter of such incidents. Root acknowledged that earning back the trust of the fans will take time and consistent conduct from the team.