No Criminal Charges for England All‑rounder Bradley Cars After Police Probe

Derbyshire police confirmed on September 19 that the criminal probe into England cricketer Bradley Cars has been terminated with no charges forthcoming. The investigation concluded that the complainant did not wish to proceed, removing the prosecutorial basis for any offence.

The force’s final report stated that the alleged assault reported in Derby City Centre will not be taken to court. Although the legal matter has been settled, the England and Wales Cricket Board will now conduct its own assessment to determine if the player has breached any sporting regulations.

The controversy originated in late August when a clip posted online showed Cars in handcuffs at Moor Lane police station in Wardwick. He was initially detained on suspicion of intoxication and disruptive behaviour after being called in by officers, but was later released without a charge.

During the incident, Cars was representing Derby in the County Championship. He had previously been selected for England’s first two Tests against Pakistan, but was subsequently dropped from the series following the allegations. The same episode also led to his exclusion from the One‑Day International and T20 series against Sri Lanka.

White‑ball coach Brett McCullum publicly advised Cars to address his off‑field conduct and to take the necessary time to reset his behaviour before any future selection. Since the Derby incident, Cars has continued to feature for Derby in the domestic circuit, though he was omitted from the match against Warwickshire.

The next phase involves an ECB disciplinary hearing, which will decide whether any cricket‑specific sanctions are appropriate in light of the police decision to close the case.