According to Ryan Campbell, the Durham coach, there was a turning point in Brydon Carse’s career during the 2024 County match against Somerset. While playing for Durham, he didn’t just look threatening in that game with the ball in hand but also composed his second first-class hundred. Although he is better known for his hit-the-deck skills and a burst of pace, his coach believes that hundred gave him the confidence he can take his game to another level. In other words, it indirectly helped his main skill – pace bowling.
Soon, Carse made his Test debut for England in Pakistan and currently has 27 wickets at a noteworthy average of 19.85. He is also expected to lead the England pace attack in the upcoming five-Test series versus India. Curiously, the Durham pacer averages over 30 with the ball in first-class cricket. “The turning point was last year at Somerset,” he told RevSportz. “Everyone talks about Brydon the bowler. Down there, he bowled with pace, but he also walked into bat and made a magnificent hundred.
“His batting hasn’t really been spoken about too much at the international level. But his batting gives him the confidence, so that he can bowl with a little more venom. Here at Durham, we also have Ben Stokes, he has obviously watched Brydon very closely and he is a big fan of Brydon,” he added.
One of the reasons for Carse’s rather modest first-class average could be because he has been laid low by a spate of injuries. Carse, who made his first-class debut way back in 2016, has had a couple of knee injuries, including a torn cartilage in his right knee during England Lions’ tour of Australia in 2021. To make matters worse, he has also suffered from recurring toe injuries. This year, after playing in a Champions Trophy game versus Australia, he was ruled out of the rest of that tournament and the subsequent IPL 2025 due to the toe problem.
“He has had a long time out of the game. His knee (injury) was a tough deep laceration. His toe injury… he had six weeks of rest. His return to bowling was very well planned, we haven’t taken any risks with him, he is returning to full fitness,” said the Durham coach. “We have known for quite some time his skill level, the pace that he possesses. It is something that we in Durham are used to seeing for some time. Unfortunately, the consistency in his bowling hasn’t been there. The more he bowled, the more he stayed on the park… he is bowling faster and faster,” he noted.
Incidentally, Carse went on to play limited overs games versus the West Indies. Although he didn’t look at his best in some of those matches, the England camp would be pleased that he came through it unscathed.
England’s injury woes don’t just end with Carse. The likes of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer weren’t picked for the opening Test against India in Leeds because of injuries. Josh Tongue also has had injury worries. So, what does Campbell have to say about the long list of injuries and the depth of England’s pace stocks?
“It is well spoken that England have had a lot of injuries. Tongue brings pace and bounce; it is something that England are looking for. A guy like Sam Cook has been an unbelievable bowler in County cricket for so long. He has been the leading wicket-taker continuously. Yes, he doesn’t bowl as fast as the rest, but he is skillful. He is a readymade Test cricketer. Matthew Potts is another one that we have at Durham, who will run in all day. I think England’s bowling stocks, although they have some big names out, is still going to be a very solid pace battery,” he reckoned.
The discussion soon shifted towards the likely conditions for the India-England Test series. In the recent past, England have looked to prepare flatter wickets. However, will they be tempted to leave a covering of grass considering the fact that India have a rather inexperienced batting line-up? “England have prepared flat wickets mainly because they want to bat fast. Unfortunately, that hasn’t given bowlers much opportunity to shine. But it won’t be surprising if they leave a little more grass on the wicket because India traditionally don’t like that sort of conditions,” Campbell said.
The main reason for India lacking enough experience in their ranks is a result of the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Campbell shares his thoughts on the retirements of the two stalwarts. “Obviously, two of the greats of the game; I think with any cricket team, if a great of the game retires, let alone two, there would be holes to fill.
“Every team goes through it. Australia will be looking within the next year or so on losing out on Khawaja, and David Warner not so long ago. Everyone goes through it. India have a vast number of talented cricketers, I am sure they have got the talent there. I guess the question is going to be, do they have the experience to get over England conditions and play well over five Tests,” he signed off.
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