About This Article
Zoom Testing has more than 20 years’ experience providing drug testing products and guidance in the UK. This article looks back at the 2019 Alex Hales case and explains the differences between hair, urine and saliva drug testing.
Published: 30 April 2019 | Last Updated: 3 October 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
In April 2019, England batsman Alex Hales began a 21-day ban from cricket for recreational drug use, following a reported positive hair drug test. Before the news became public, the Nottinghamshire player had made himself unavailable for selection for personal reasons, setting no date for a return to playing.
Before the news broke, Hales had been named in the preliminary squad for England’s 2019 World Cup campaign. He received an automatic ban from playing cricket after breaching the England and Wales Cricket Board’s policy on recreational drugs for the second time in his playing career.
At the time, professional male and female cricketers in England and Wales were subject to hair testing for recreational drugs under the ECB’s policy.
Contents
Advantage of Hair Drug Testing
A hair drug test can provide evidence of drug use over an extended period. Analysis of around 3 cm of head hair is commonly used to provide an approximate three-month history, although hair growth varies and testing cannot usually establish an exact date of drug use.
Benefits of Hair Testing over Urine Drug Tests
The window of detection of hair tests is much wider than that of urine drug tests. This makes a hair test useful for identifying regular, longer-term drug use. Urine drug tests are generally better suited to identifying more recent drug use, although detection times vary considerably depending on the drug, dose, frequency of use, individual metabolism and the test being used.
A saliva drug test has a shorter detection window, typically covering relatively recent drug use. Detection times vary according to the substance, dose, individual and test used. These tests are generally used to identify relatively recent drug use rather than the longer-term pattern that hair testing can provide.
Drug Testing in Cricket
In 2013, hair testing for recreational drugs was introduced into professional cricket in England and Wales following the death of Surrey cricketer Tom Maynard in the previous year. The regulations were incremental in nature, looking to provide a balance between deterrence and rehabilitation.
Before the Hales case, Durham’s Jack Burnham had received a 12-month ban after a third violation of the recreational drugs policy. The batsman, who had represented England at Under-19 level, was retained by his county despite testing positive for cocaine for a third time in 2017.
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham is the founder and editor of Zoom Testing, with more than 20 years’ experience in drug testing products and guidance. He writes about drug testing methods, detection windows, workplace testing and emerging drug trends, drawing on manufacturer information, professional guidance and recognised UK sources.
Drug Testing Disclaimer
Drug detection times vary according to the substance, dose, frequency of use, individual metabolism, specimen type and the sensitivity of the test. A positive drug test indicates that a substance or its metabolite has been detected above the relevant cut-off level. It does not, by itself, establish impairment or the exact time a drug was taken. Always follow the instructions supplied with the test and seek professional advice where results may have medical, legal or employment consequences.
