Cricket Player Doug Bracewell Gets Two-Year Ban for Cocaine

Apr 24, 2026, 14:45
A2

Cricket Player Doug Bracewell Gets Two-Year Ban for Cocaine

Introduction

Doug Bracewell, a cricket player from New Zealand, cannot play cricket for two years. A test in England found cocaine in his body.

Main Body

The test happened in September 2024 during a match. Bracewell used cocaine after the first day of the match. He told the officials he used the drug. He stopped playing cricket in December 2024. This is not the first time. Earlier in 2024, he got a one-month ban for the same drug in New Zealand. He got help to stop using drugs. Bracewell is 35 years old. He played for New Zealand in 69 international matches. His father, uncle, and cousin also played cricket for New Zealand.

Conclusion

Bracewell accepted the two-year ban. The cricket club said it will help him.

Vocabulary Learning

ban (n.)
prohibition / A rule that says you cannot do something.禁令
Example:The cricket player got a two-year ban for using cocaine.
drug (n.)
substance / An illegal substance that affects the body or mind.毒品
Example:He used the drug after the first day of the match.
help (v.)
assist / To give support or make something easier for someone.幫助
Example:The cricket club said it will help him.
match (n.)
game / A sports competition between two teams or players.比賽
Example:The test happened during a match in September 2024.
test (n.)
check / A medical or scientific examination to find something.測試
Example:A test found cocaine in his body.

Sentence Learning

A test in England found cocaine in his body.
Prepositional Phrase: Shows location (in England, in his body).介詞短語：表示地點（在英格蘭、在他的體內）。
The test happened in September 2024 during a match.
Time Marker and Prepositional Phrase: Show when (in September 2024) and during what event (during a match).時間標記和介詞短語：表示時間（在2024年9月）和事件期間（在一場比賽期間）。
Bracewell used cocaine after the first day of the match.
Time Marker: Shows sequence (after the first day).時間標記：表示順序（在比賽的第一天之後）。
He stopped playing cricket in December 2024.
Time Marker: Shows when he stopped (in December 2024).時間標記：表示他停止的時間（在2024年12月）。
Earlier in 2024, he got a one-month ban for the same drug in New Zealand.
Time Marker and Prepositional Phrase: Show time (Earlier in 2024), reason (for the same drug), and place (in New Zealand).時間標記和介詞短語：表示時間（2024年早些時候）、原因（因同一種藥物）和地點（在新西蘭）。
B2

Former New Zealand All-Rounder Doug Bracewell Suspended for Two Years After Positive Cocaine Test

Introduction

Doug Bracewell, a former New Zealand international cricketer, has been given a two-year suspension by England's Cricket Regulator after a drug test in September 2024 found cocaine in his system. The ban was confirmed on 24 April, following Bracewell's retirement from professional cricket in December 2024.

Main Body

The positive test came from a sample taken on 25 September 2024 during Essex's final County Championship match against Somerset. The sample contained cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine, which are banned under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping rules. The Cricket Regulator informed Bracewell of the result in November 2024. He responded on 8 December, admitting that he had used cocaine after the first day of the match, into the early hours of the following morning. On day one, he had opened the bowling and taken two wickets, and he was not needed to bat on day two. Essex went on to win the match by seven wickets. Bracewell retired from all forms of cricket on 28 December 2024, before the ban was imposed. This incident follows a previous suspension in New Zealand in 2024, where Bracewell received a one-month ban for cocaine use after a domestic Twenty20 match. As part of that disciplinary process, he had completed a substance abuse treatment programme. Essex acknowledged the failed test in a statement, noting that while the club does not approve of the behaviour, it is committed to supporting Bracewell through rehabilitation in line with its policies. Bracewell, now 35, played 69 international matches for New Zealand across all formats, including 28 Test matches. He made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in November 2011 and his final international appearance in a Test against Sri Lanka in March 2023. He comes from a cricketing family: his father Brendon played for New Zealand, his uncle John Bracewell played 28 Tests and later coached Ireland from 2015 to 2017, and his cousin Michael is a current Black Cap. New Zealand is scheduled to tour England in June 2025 for a three-Test series, starting at Lord's on 4 June.

Conclusion

Bracewell has accepted the two-year ban. The regulatory body's decision closes the matter, with Essex stating its intention to help the player's rehabilitation. The suspension adds to a history of substance-related violations in Bracewell's career.

Vocabulary Learning

admit (v.)
confess / to acknowledge or confess something, often reluctantly承認 (尤指不情願地承認)
Example:He admitted to using cocaine after the first day of the match.
impose (v.)
enforce / to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be accepted or obeyed施加 (強制執行規則、懲罰等)
Example:The ban was imposed after the positive drug test.
rehabilitation (n.)
recovery process / the process of helping someone to return to a healthy or normal life after illness, addiction, or injury康復 (幫助恢復健康或正常生活的過程)
Example:The club is committed to supporting Bracewell through rehabilitation.
suspension (n.)
temporary ban / the act of temporarily removing someone from a position or activity暫停 (職務或活動的暫時中止)
Example:The player received a two-year suspension for violating anti-doping rules.
violation (n.)
breach / an act of breaking or failing to comply with a rule or law違規 (違反規則或法律的行為)
Example:This incident follows a history of substance-related violations in his career.

Sentence Learning

Doug Bracewell, a former New Zealand international cricketer, has been given a two-year suspension by England's Cricket Regulator after a drug test in September 2024 found cocaine in his system.
Passive Voice 'has been given' is present perfect passive, shifting focus from the giver to the receiver (Bracewell). Useful for formal reporting.被動語態「has been given」是現在完成被動式，將重點從給予者轉移到接收者（Bracewell），適合正式報導。
The sample contained cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine, which are banned under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping rules.
Relative Clause with 'which' The clause 'which are banned...' provides additional information about the substances, combining two ideas into one sentence for cohesion.關係從句「which are banned...」補充說明這些物質的資訊，將兩個概念合併成一句，使文章更連貫。
This incident follows a previous suspension in New Zealand in 2024, where Bracewell received a one-month ban for cocaine use after a domestic Twenty20 match.
Relative Clause with 'where' 'where' refers to 'a previous suspension in New Zealand in 2024' and introduces details of that suspension, adding context without a new sentence.關係從句「where Bracewell received...」中的「where」指代「2024年紐西蘭的停賽」，引入該停賽的細節，無需另起新句即可補充背景。
Essex acknowledged the failed test in a statement, noting that while the club does not approve of the behaviour, it is committed to supporting Bracewell through rehabilitation in line with its policies.
Linking Word 'while' for Contrast 'while' contrasts the club's disapproval of the behaviour with its commitment to support rehabilitation, clearly showing two opposing ideas.連接詞「while」表示對比「while」對比俱樂部不認同該行為與承諾支持康復，明確展示兩個相反的概念。
The ban was confirmed on 24 April, following Bracewell's retirement from professional cricket in December 2024.
Passive Voice 'was confirmed' is simple past passive, emphasizing the action of confirmation rather than who confirmed it. Common in news to report official decisions.被動語態「was confirmed」是簡單過去被動式，強調確認這個動作而非誰確認，常見於新聞報導官方決定。
C2

Former New Zealand All-Rounder Doug Bracewell Suspended for Two Years Following Positive Cocaine Test

Introduction

Doug Bracewell, a former New Zealand international cricketer, has been issued a two-year suspension by England's Cricket Regulator after a drug test conducted in September 2024 returned positive for cocaine. The ban was confirmed on 24 April, following Bracewell's retirement from professional cricket in December 2024.

Main Body

Bracewell's positive test resulted from an in-competition sample collected on 25 September 2024 during Essex's final County Championship match against Somerset. The sample contained cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine, substances classified as prohibited under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping regulations. The Cricket Regulator notified Bracewell of the result in November 2024, and he responded on 8 December, admitting to using cocaine after the first day of the match, into the early hours of the following morning. He had opened the bowling on day one, taking two wickets, and was not required to bat on day two; Essex subsequently won the match by seven wickets. Bracewell retired from all forms of cricket on 28 December 2024, prior to the imposition of the ban. This incident follows a previous sanction in New Zealand in 2024, where Bracewell received a one-month suspension for cocaine use after a domestic Twenty20 match. He had completed a substance abuse treatment programme as part of that disciplinary process. Essex acknowledged the failed test in a statement, noting that while the club does not condone the behaviour, it is committed to supporting Bracewell through rehabilitation in line with its policies and procedures. Bracewell, aged 35, represented New Zealand in 69 international matches across formats, including 28 Test matches. He made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in November 2011 and his final international appearance in a Test against Sri Lanka in March 2023. He comes from a cricketing family: his father Brendon played for New Zealand, his uncle John Bracewell played 28 Tests and later coached Ireland from 2015 to 2017, and his cousin Michael is a current Black Cap. New Zealand is scheduled to tour England in June 2025 for a three-Test series, beginning at Lord's on 4 June.

Conclusion

Bracewell has accepted the two-year sanction. The regulatory body's decision concludes the matter, with Essex indicating its intention to assist the player's rehabilitation. The suspension adds to a record of substance-related violations in Bracewell's career.

Vocabulary Learning

condone (v.)
overlook / to accept or allow behavior that is considered wrong縱容
Example:The club does not condone the behaviour but supports rehabilitation.
imposition (n.)
enforcement / the act of imposing something (e.g., a penalty)實施（懲罰等）
Example:The player retired prior to the imposition of the ban.
metabolite (n.)
byproduct / a substance produced during metabolism代謝產物
Example:The sample contained cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine.
regulatory (adj.)
governing / relating to the regulation of an activity監管的
Example:The regulatory body's decision concludes the matter.
sanction (n.)
penalty / a formal penalty imposed for breaking a rule制裁
Example:This incident follows a previous sanction in New Zealand for cocaine use.

Sentence Learning

Bracewell's positive test resulted from an in-competition sample collected on 25 September 2024 during Essex's final County Championship match against Somerset.
Reduced Relative Clause: The phrase 'collected on 25 September 2024...' is a reduced relative clause (omitting 'that was') modifying 'sample', adding conciseness and complexity. Multiple prepositional phrases ('on 25 September 2024', 'during Essex's final County Championship match', 'against Somerset') create layered temporal and contextual detail.縮減關係子句：片語「collected on 25 September 2024...」為縮減關係子句（省略「that was」），修飾「sample」，使句子更簡潔且複雜。多個介詞片語（「on 25 September 2024」、「during Essex's final County Championship match」、「against Somerset」）形成層層的時間與情境細節。
The sample contained cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine, substances classified as prohibited under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping regulations.
Appositive with Reduced Relative Clause: The noun phrase 'substances classified as prohibited...' is an appositive that renames 'cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine'. Within it, 'classified as prohibited' is a reduced relative clause (omitting 'that are'), adding technical precision. The long postmodifier 'under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping regulations' specifies the regulatory framework.同位語搭配縮減關係子句：名詞片語「substances classified as prohibited...」為同位語，重新說明「cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine」。其中「classified as prohibited」是縮減關係子句（省略「that are」），增添技術精確性。長後置修飾語「under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping regulations」明確指出監管框架。
Essex acknowledged the failed test in a statement, noting that while the club does not condone the behaviour, it is committed to supporting Bracewell through rehabilitation in line with its policies and procedures.
Participial Phrase with Complex Subordination: The participial phrase 'noting that...' introduces a that-clause containing a concessive subordinate clause ('while the club does not condone the behaviour') followed by the main clause ('it is committed...'). This structure demonstrates advanced nesting of clauses. The use of 'in line with its policies and procedures' adds a prepositional phrase with nominalization.分詞片語搭配複雜從屬結構：分詞片語「noting that...」引導一個 that-子句，其中包含讓步從屬子句（「while the club does not condone the behaviour」）及主要子句（「it is committed...」）。此結構展現高階的子句嵌套。使用「in line with its policies and procedures」加入帶有名詞化的介詞片語。
He comes from a cricketing family: his father Brendon played for New Zealand, his uncle John Bracewell played 28 Tests and later coached Ireland from 2015 to 2017, and his cousin Michael is a current Black Cap.
Colon with Parallel Clauses: The colon introduces a series of three independent clauses listing family members, each with parallel structure (subject + verb + complement). The clauses are separated by commas and a final 'and', creating a balanced, enumerative effect. The use of 'a current Black Cap' (metonymy for the New Zealand national team) adds rhetorical nuance.冒號搭配平行子句：冒號引出三個獨立子句，列舉家庭成員，每個子句結構平行（主詞+動詞+補語）。子句間以逗號及最後的「and」分隔，形成平衡的列舉效果。使用「a current Black Cap」（轉喻紐西蘭國家隊）增添修辭層次。
The regulatory body's decision concludes the matter, with Essex indicating its intention to assist the player's rehabilitation.
Absolute Construction: The phrase 'with Essex indicating its intention...' is an absolute construction (with + noun + present participle) that provides additional circumstantial information without a finite verb. It functions as an adverbial, adding a concurrent action. The nominalization 'its intention to assist' and 'the player's rehabilitation' contribute to lexical density.獨立結構：片語「with Essex indicating its intention...」為獨立結構（with + 名詞 + 現在分詞），以非限定動詞形式提供附加情境資訊。其功能相當於副詞，增添同時發生的動作。名詞化結構「its intention to assist」及「the player's rehabilitation」提升詞彙密度。