Brydon Carse has been ruled out of England’s Champions Trophy campaign due to a left toe injury. He will miss their crucial match against Afghanistan on Wednesday and their final group fixture against South Africa on Saturday.
Carse, who struggled during England’s loss to Australia, had been dealing with the injury since the recent India series. It started as a blister, requiring stitches and causing him to miss two ODIs. Though he played against Australia, he was England’s most expensive bowler, conceding at 9.85 runs per over. His discomfort was evident, leading to his withdrawal from the squad.
The ICC approved his replacement on Monday, with leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed called up instead of a like-for-like seamer. Ahmed, who was part of England’s squad in India but didn’t play, will strengthen the spin department alongside Adil Rashid. However, he is unlikely to feature against Afghanistan as he arrives in Pakistan on match day.
Carse’s absence could see Jamie Overton return to the XI, given his similar role as a bowling all-rounder. England also has Saqib Mahmood and Gus Atkinson as pace options. If England reaches the semi-finals, an additional spinner may prove crucial in Dubai, where conditions favor turn.
This injury adds to England’s fast-bowling concerns, especially with key Test series against India and Australia ahead. It may also impact Carse’s IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he secured a £100,000 deal. This setback ends a demanding winter for Carse, who played five Tests after debuting in Pakistan, despite serving a three-month ban last summer for historic gambling offenses.
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