England captain Joe Root has admitted he is “really hacked off” and “really disappointed” after another off-field incident subjected the team's drinking culture to renewed scrutiny — this time involving fast bowler Brydon Carse, who was photographed outside a nightclub in the early hours of Sunday in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers.

Root: 'We continually keep making stupid mistakes'

The latest episode is particularly awkward for Root, who had only recently stressed the responsibilities that come with representing England after the team leadership scrapped a midnight curfew imposed following a string of controversial late-night incidents. The incident has prompted an investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board's Cricket Regulator, and it appears to have tested the captain's patience.

“If I'm being brutally honest, I'm really hacked off. I'm really disappointed,” Root said at a news conference on Tuesday. “It's not the isolated incident itself,” he added. “It's the fact we continually keep making stupid mistakes away from the game and it's detracting from what we're doing on the field.”

Root said Carse is deeply remorseful, if publicly silent so far:
“He's very upset, has been very apologetic, and understands his actions.” The captain was equally blunt about the broader pattern. “ We don't think it has been a very good look, the recent past, if I'm being brutally honest,” he said. “At all.”

Cook: 'Just have some kind of brain cells'

Former England captain Alastair Cook offered a blunt assessment on the Stick to Cricket podcast, insisting the issue is one of judgement rather than the tradition of a post-match drink.

“Just have some kind of brain cells amongst you, seeing what's just gone on,” Cook said. “Surely somebody says either don't go to that place, or at 12 a.m. or 1 a.m. say, 'Let's go and find ourselves somewhere quieter if we want to carry on.'”

The scrutiny comes despite a longstanding tradition of players sharing drinks after matches. Former captain Ben Stokes himself spoke about the importance of celebrating with team-mates after England's win over New Zealand at Lord's in June.

“I probably won't be real happy and smiley,” Stokes said at the time, “instantly).” But a series of incidents has raised the question of where celebration ends and irresponsible behaviour begins.

Vaughan: punishment that 'sends a shiver'

Former England captain Michael Vaughan went further, urging the ECB to impose a punishment strong enough to deter the entire set-up.

“Someone is going to have to get a punishment that sends a shiver down the whole England cricket team and right down through the programme, so that everyone knows that if you misbehave or bring any kind of bad reputation onto this team, you know what's coming,” Vaughan said on BBC Radio. “It's the only punishment that will really hurt players.”

Vaughan acknowledged Carse could feel hard done by if sanctioned heavily given the wider pattern.
“I hope Carse is getting good support around him. He is a character who can be a little bit loose,” he said. “I would feel for Carse if he is the one who takes the rap for what has happened over the past nine months, but somewhere, somehow, something has to be done to set a precedent that they won't stand for that behaviour any more.”

A deepening list of off-field episodes

England have faced questioning over players' late-night behaviour for a year. On last October's white-ball tour of New Zealand, captain Harry Brook was hit by a bouncer after being turned away from a club in Wellington, with Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue also present. Brook was later fined around £30,000 and handed a final warning. He later apologised:
“I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behavior was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team.”

During the Ashes in Australia, opener Ben Duckett's night out in Noosa drew criticism after footage showed the England opener appearing disorientated and unable to recall how to get back to his hotel.
“I am sorry for that incident, it was not professional and shouldn't have happened, there is no hiding away from it,” Duckett later said, prompting England managing director Rob Key to say he would investigate the team's drinking habit.

Following the first Test victory at Lord's against New Zealand in June, Stokes and Gus Atkinson continued celebrations with a night out in London, during which a member of England's security staff was reportedly struck by a Saracens rugby player. Both were left out of the second Test while the matter was investigated. The inquiry found no “regulatory breach,” but Stokes soon retired from international cricket during the third Test, saying the previous few months had “taken its toll.” Brendon McCullum was subsequently dismissed as Test coach, while Key said the ECB was considering an alcohol ban.

What next for Carse?

Carse's incident occurred while on domestic duty with Durham, whom he had joined after being left out of England's XI for the first Test against Pakistan at Leeds. He contributed 26 runs and returned figures of 2-82 as Durham beat the horses inside three days before heading out to celebrate. Vehicle for — was briefly arresting, according to Britain's Press Association, with Durham team-mates Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts alongside him and social-media showing Stokes watching as Carse was held in handcuffs.

The ECB has confirmed Carse “will no longer be available for selection” for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's on Thursday, with Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker called up as his replacement. The incidents have revived the core question now facing English cricket: not just whether players should celebrate after matches, but whether a highly professional set-up needs clearer boundaries around how and where those celebrations take place.