Brydon Carse given path to England return, Shoaib Bashir dropped and Liam Patterson-White called up
England cricket selectors have named pace bowler Brydon Carse in the Lions squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa. This marks his return to the international setup following a period of absence due to a police investigation into an alleged assault.
Why it matters
The decision highlights the complex intersection of athlete conduct, legal investigations, and professional sports management.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Brydon Carse has not played for England since the fifth Ashes Test in January
Cricket correspondent Published 9 November 2026, 12:00 GMT England have opened the door for Brydon Carse to return to Test cricket for the tour of South Africa by naming the pace bowler in the Lions squad.
Carse could come into the Test squad as cover for Josh Tongue, who will miss the opener to the three-Test series to be at the birth of his second child.
England have named a 15-man group for the series, which begins in Johannesburg on 17 December. Uncapped Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White is called up for the first time, at the expense of Shoaib Bashir.
Carse has not been part of any England squad since being handcuffed - explained as arrested then de-arrested - outside a nightclub in Derby in August.
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