Durham expect to be WITHOUT Brydon Carse during their country cricket campaign after the fast bowler’s stunning international return following a betting ban

Such has been the impact of Brydon Carse on the international scene over the past few months that Durham are not expecting to see him in 2025.

Carse, who made a stunning start to his Test career, bagging 27 wickets in five appearances against Pakistan and New Zealand during the second half of 2024, arrived in Kolkata on Saturday for England’s limited-overs tour of India and is also in the 15-strong squad for next month’s Champions Trophy.

Add in a first spell at the Indian Premier League with Sunrisers Hyderabad in April and May, plus the expectation that he will be heavily involved in the home Test series against India later in the summer and his chances of appearing in county cricket are negligible.

‘I don’t think we are forecasting to have him at all, to be honest, because he’s done so well,’ said newly-appointed Durham club captain Alex Lees.

It is all a far cry from five months ago when the 29-year-old was sidelined by a suspension for historical betting on cricket matches.

‘I’m not going to say it was the best thing for him, because I’m sure it was a really challenging time but indirectly that ban was probably beneficial because he trained every day, and came back to playing fit and strong. He certainly made the best of a bad situation,’ Lees added.

Carse made a stunning start to his Test career, bagging 27 wickets in five appearances against Pakistan and New Zealand

Five months ago when the 29-year-old was sidelined by a suspension for historical betting on cricket matches

Five months ago when the 29-year-old was sidelined by a suspension for historical betting on cricket matches

‘He could always bowl 90 miles an hour, but his ball speed has been more consistently around that 90 mile per hour mark this winter than I have ever seen before. So, he used that time away from the game properly.

‘His best spell is good enough for him to make any attack in the world. He’s tall, his pace is decent and it was absolutely no surprise to anyone here that he did so well when he was chosen to play Test cricket.’

And Lees suggests that the South African-born all-rounder is capable of so much more in an elite environment.

‘I actually think England will get a better version of Brydon compared to the one in county cricket,’ Lees reflected.

‘Durham are amazing at rotating bowlers and giving them the time off, but I think the nature of international cricket, with its gaps in between games and series, particularly in Test cricket, means you’ll get a fresher version of Brydon more regularly.

‘The other thing that people have not really seen, and I hope he can translate it to international cricket, is that his batting is also incredible.

‘He’s got the ability to make some really serious runs. He may not have shown that just yet, but he’s a high quality all rounder and I just hope he stays fit.’

Indeed, having begun as an opener in his schoolboy days, Carse averages 30 with the bat over a nine-year, first-class career and has featured between Nos 3-6 for Durham in the Vitality Blast in the past two seasons.

Durham club captain Alex Lees believes that the time on the sidelines has aided Carse's development

Durham club captain Alex Lees believes that the time on the sidelines has aided Carse’s development

Lees suggests that the South African-born all-rounder is capable of so much more in an elite environment

Lees suggests that the South African-born all-rounder is capable of so much more in an elite environment

Carse is yet to score a run in four Twenty20 international appearances, but his presence potentially adds an extra dimension to the lower order as England begin a five-match series against India at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Brendon McCullum knows the conditions well, having featured in multiple IPL campaigns on and off the field, and will use this tour – his first as England coach across all formats – to formulate plans for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup on the subcontinent.

England go into a campaign in which India are without their injured attack spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and resting trio Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill on the back of a form-turning 3-1 victory over West Indies in the autumn.

However, their man of the series in the Caribbean, Saqib Mahmood, endured unnecessary hassle in the build-up, having been grounded in the UK by visa issues.

The red tape denied Mahmood, one of three England squad members with Pakistani heritage, the opportunity to join a pre-tour bowling camp in the United Arab Emirates last week. He flew out with the rest of the squad instead.

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