England open door for Brydon Carse's Test return as Shoaib Bashir drops down to Lions

England have opened the door for Brydon Carse to return to the Test side ahead of their upcoming series against South Africa after including the fast bowler in the England Lions squad.

The 31-year-old was left out of the senior team during the summer following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby in August. Although the police investigation was closed in September, Carse was subsequently charged by the Cricket Regulator and is still awaiting the outcome of the disciplinary process.

National selector Marcus North confirmed that conversations had taken place with Carse and that the decision had been made to bring him back into the England environment through the Lions.

The fast bowler could become an option for the first Test in Johannesburg on December 17, with Josh Tongue unavailable as he returns home for the birth of his second child. North explained that the Lions programme would allow England's coaching staff to assess potential replacements before making a decision.

Meanwhile, Shoaib Bashir has been left out of the senior Test squad and will join the Lions for the South Africa tour. However, North stressed that the 23-year-old remains an important part of England's long-term plans.

"We will continue to be incredibly invested in Shoaib over the winter," North said, adding that the spinner remains highly valued and has plenty of time to develop.

England have instead selected Nottinghamshire's Liam Patterson-White, who took 42 wickets in the County Championship last season and earned his first Test call-up.

The three-Test series against South Africa begins in Johannesburg on December 17, with further matches scheduled in Centurion and Cape Town.