Brydon Carse has been added to England’s squad for the Metro Bank ODI series against India, returning to international cricket after more than eight months out with wrist and elbow injuries.
The 30-year-old Durham fast bowler played three matches in the Vitality Blast as his comeback before being called into the England ODI setup. His most recent ODI appearance was against New Zealand at Wellington in November 2025.
Carse’s absence from the England setup stretched across multiple formats and series. It began with a hand injury during training with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League in April 2026. He was ruled out of his IPL stint, and the injury led to wrist and elbow complications that kept him out of international cricket until this month.
He had played in the Ashes earlier this year, taking 3 for 181 against Australia. But after that, he was ruled out of the Champions Trophy in February. He missed the Test series against New Zealand in June. And when England named their ODI squad for the India series on July 3, Carse was one of four players replaced, with Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood and debutant James Coles earning his first ODI call-up coming in.
Now he is back. England’s squad now has an extra pace-bowling option for the remaining two ODIs against India, with Carse joining Archer, Atkinson, Mahmood, Sam Curran and Coles in the seam department. The first ODI at Edgbaston on July 14, with Harry Brook leading England, saw the hosts post 258 all out, with Joe Root scoring 76 and Liam Dawson adding a half-century.
“Carse returns following his recovery from wrist and elbow injuries and after three matches with Durham in the Vitality Blast.”
England and Wales Cricket Board, official announcement, July 14, 2026
Insider Read:
Wrist and elbow injuries are different from the usual muscle strains and stress fractures that keep fast bowlers out. When a fast bowler injures his bowling hand, every part of the action that follows gets affected — the grip on the seam, the wrist position at release, the load through the elbow into the delivery stride.
A hamstring or side strain heals with rest and rehab. A wrist or elbow issue forces a bowler to rebuild confidence in the most delicate part of his action: the moment the ball leaves the hand. For a bowler who relies on pace and bounce like Carse, that confidence takes time. Three T20 Blast games is a short runway before walking into an ODI against India, but it gives him match rhythm before being considered for selection.
Carse has 58 wickets in 14 Tests. His ODI numbers are still building. What England need from him now is not just his bowling but the physical presence he brings to an attack that has often lacked enforcers outside Archer.
Sources:
- ECB official announcement, July 14, 2026 ECB
- “Brydon Carse ruled out of IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad,” BBC, April 14, 2026 BBC
- “Brydon Carse: England bowler set for first match since Ashes,” BBC, July 8, 2026 BBC
- “Fit-again Brydon Carse added to squad for India ODIs,” Cricbuzz, July 14, 2026 Cricbuzz
- England ODI squad named for India series, ECB, July 3, 2026 ECB
