England let Carse retain his central contract and he was back in the national team at the first opportunity for the white-ball series against Australia in September.
Carse said he “can’t thank Stokes enough.” Ten-wicket hauls are a pretty good option for this. England looked after Carse. Now Carse takes care of England.
Even before the ban, Carse had taken a detour to the English test team. He was born in South Africa and has the coordinates of his birthplace in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) tattooed on his arm.
His father James played county cricket for Northamptonshire in the 1980s. Carse, a British passport holder, qualified for England in 2019 and made his international debut two years later when an entire day squad had to be replaced due to a Covid outbreak.
As part of the Lions squad accompanying the senior national team in Australia in 2021/22, Carse suffered a serious knee injury. It ruined his outside reputation of a mid-series Ashes call-up.
Without the suspension he would have been in line for a Test debut last summer, with Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone and Josh Hull given a chance instead. Now he has his own, Carse is successful.
He is another Englishman who has the credentials for Test cricket, although he doesn't necessarily have them in first-class cricket. Before his suspension, Carse averaged 106 with the ball for Durham this year. Before Christchurch, he had not taken a first-class five-wicket haul for more than three years.
Carse said surfaces in county cricket typically don't have the “carry” that suits his bowling style. He likes to go on deck.
In the 2006 Cricviz database, there are 156 right-arm pace bowlers who have delivered at least 500 deliveries in Test cricket. With an average length of 8.5m from the striker's stumps, Carse bowls shorter than anyone else.
