DOUG Bracewell has admitted using cocaine after the opening day of Essex County Cricket Club’s final County Championship match of last season.
Bracewell tested positive on 25 September, the second day of the game against Somerset County Cricket Club at Chelmsford. He was informed by the Cricket Regulator in November and later confirmed he had taken cocaine after day one of the match and into the early hours of the next morning.
The New Zealander, who had signed for Essex for the final three games of the season, took two wickets on the opening day as Somerset reached 339-6. He was not required to bat, and Essex went on to win by seven wickets.
Bracewell retired from cricket on 28 December after being notified of the result, but has still been handed a two-year ban by the regulator, which he has accepted. Essex will not face any punishment.
In a statement, the club said: “Essex can confirm that Doug Bracewell failed a routine drugs test in September 2025.
“The club supports the Cricket Regulator’s decision to impose a period of ineligibility of two years. All employees are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct.
“While the club does not condone Bracewell’s behaviour, we are committed to supporting him through rehabilitation in line with our policies and procedures.”
Bracewell comes from a well-known New Zealand cricket family, with his uncle John Bracewell and cousin Michael Bracewell both representing the national side.
