England Test captain Joe Root has set strict requirements for the team's standards of behavior amid a recent scandal involving alcohol consumption in the camp. This was reported by quick bowler Josh Tongue.
Brydon Carse was dropped from the squad before the second match against Pakistan at Lord's, which started on Thursday. The 31-year-old player was handed over to the cricket regulatory body after videos appeared on social media allegedly showing police escorting several individuals after an incident at a nightclub in Derby last week.
Despite England securing a convincing victory over Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the first match, where Root returned to lead at Headingley, Root, who appeared visibly annoyed, stated on Tuesday that he had been 'cut off' due to the latest alcohol-related incident involving an England player, even though Carse was not included in the squad in Leeds.
Root revealed that he held 'firm' discussions with the players. Josh Tongue told reporters at Lord's on Wednesday: 'We spoke before training yesterday, as Joe said. It was a very good conversation, and he clearly outlined what he expects from us.' The 28-year-old pacer, who took eight wickets at Headingley, added: 'I think we just need to make sure we are as professional as we can... Playing for England is obviously a privilege.'
Further developments
Carse's brief detention was the latest in a series of alcohol-related incidents that have plagued England over the past ten months. Captain Harry Brook in limited-overs formats was involved in a scuffle with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington ahead of an ODI match in New Zealand.
Videos also surfaced showing opener Ben Duckett appearing intoxicated during a night out while England lost the Ashes series 4-1 in Australia. Furthermore, in June, former captains Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were suspended from the second match against New Zealand following a nightclub incident in London after curfew was breached.
Stokes announced his shocking exit from international cricket a few days later, during the third match, allowing Root to return as Test captain for the second series. Tongue, who was with Brook in Wellington, became a permanent member of the England side, taking 65 wickets in only 13 Tests at an average of 27.38.
He noted: 'I was just trying to move past that situation (in Wellington). Things were happening off the field, but I personally tried to forget about it and play the best cricket for England.' Tongue has not played in the team that won the Test series; England's last such victory was against New Zealand in December 2024.
Since then, they drew at home against India, lost in Australia, and lost at home to New Zealand in the final act of the Bazball era. However, the victory at Lord's will give England an undeniable 2-0 advantage in the three-match campaign against Pakistan. 'It would be amazing to win the series,' Tongue said. 'We just need to focus, make sure we play our best cricket, just relax there and hope we cross the finish line.'