England and Durham fast bowler Brydon Carse has been suspended for three months for breaching regulations on players gambling on cricket.

The ban rules Carse out of contention for a Test debut this summer. He was a strong candidate to play in the opening Test series of the summer, against West Indies on July 10 at Lord’s.

Carse is understood to have not played in any of the matches he gambled on, which took place more than five years ago.

“Whilst these bets were several years ago, that is no excuse and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Carse said in a statement. “I would like to thank the ECB, Durham Cricket and the PCA for their support during this difficult time for me. I will be working hard in the next 12 weeks to ensure that I repay that support on the field when I am able to return to playing.”

Following an Anti-Corruption investigation by the Cricket Regulator, Carse was suspended from all cricket for three months, with a further 13-month ban suspended for two years. Carse was charged with placing 303 bets on various cricket matches between 2017 and 2019.

Carse did not place bets on games in which he was participating. He accepted the charges and is said to have co-operated with the Cricket Regulator throughout the investigation and demonstrated significant remorse. Carse’s suspension from playing any cricket will run between 28 May 2024 and 28 August 2024.

There is no suggestion whatsoever that Carse has been involved in any match-fixing. It is understood that Carse will retain his two-year England central contract.

Carse, 28, has played 14 ODIs and three T20s for England. He was born and grew up in South Africa before moving to England. He has represented Durham since 2016, impressing with his pace, bounce and strength.

His first England appearance came against Pakistan in 2021, when part of a squad hastily picked after the original party had withdrawn because of an outbreak of Covid-19. Carse took 5-61 in his third ODI. So far Carse averages 38.8 with the ball in ODIs and 16.5 in his brief T20 international career.

During last year’s ODI World Cup, Carse was called up as an injury replacement during the tournament. His last international appearances came on the tour of the Caribbean in December.

While Carse has yet to make his Test debut, he is considered a Test prospect by the management, representing the Lions in India earlier this year. He was one of a raft of fast bowlers handed their first central contract by England last autumn. Capable of bowling at 90mph, Carse’s bounce is considered well-suited to Australian conditions, with England aiming to assemble an attack capable of regaining the urn down under in 2025/26.

Carse has also improved his batting notably in recent years. He scored his maiden first-class century last year, and has a first-class average of 29.7, suggesting a man who could provide vital lower order runs for England at number eight.

His ban further complicates the picture for the England selectors as they look to build their attack for the post-James Anderson world this summer. Anderson is due to bow out after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s, following Stuart Broad’s retirement at the end of the Ashes last summer.

England are already without Josh Tongue for at least the first series of the summer with a pectoral injury. Sam Cook, who is likely to make his debut this summer, is currently missing for Essex with a hamstring injury that is not thought to be serious. Saqib Mahmood is also currently not fit for selection for Lancashire.

Others in contention for a debut include Surrey’s Gus Atkinson and Nottinghamshire’s Dillon Pennington, while Olly Stone and Matt Potts will also be in the mix. Jofra Archer will not play Test cricket this year, but regulars Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson will be in contention. One piece of good news is Ben Stokes’s outstanding bowling form for Durham, picking up 15 wickets in his first two matches since returning to full all-round status.

On the field, Carse has had a difficult start to the summer, taking just one wicket in his first three County Championship matches. He was not named in the squad for their most recent match, a win over Somerset, or their Vitality Blast opener on Thursday night at Old Trafford.