The issue with the toe began as a blister during the recent white-ball series in India, which required stitches and saw Carse miss the final two ODIs. It is now believed to have got worse and may require further treatment. As such, the 29-year-old has been ruled out of England’s Group B encounter with Afghanistan in Lahore, and is unlikely to be available for their final fixture against South Africa in Karachi on Saturday.
“We will have to wait and see,” Joe Root told BBC Sport when asked about Carse. “There is still a good way out from the game, to find exactly what is up with Carsey. We will see how things pan out over the next few days.”
A Test debut in Pakistan – eight days after playing all of a five-match ODI series against Australia – was the first of five Test caps before the end of the year, concluding with three back-to-back in New Zealand. He then played five matches in India, where he aggravated his left toe, ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The setback adds an extra layer to the management of England’s fast-bowling reserves at the start of a year that features major Test assignments against India and Australia. The severity of the injury may also determine whether Carse is able to take up a contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL after earning a £100,000 deal during the latest auction.