The ECB have responded to the calls for stricter drug testing, saying they have begun a process, in conjunction with the Professional Cricketers' Association, of making sure players are tested more regularly, to prevent further tragedy.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan called for stricter testing on the county circuit, following revelations that deceased Surrey batsman Tom Maynard was under the influence of cocaine, MDMA and alcohol when he was killed.

Maynard died in June last year after being struck by an Underground train in Wimbledon, running away from police while four times over the legal alcohol limit. This prompted Vaughan, amongst others, to call for more regular drugs testing.

He wrote in the Telegraph: "There will be players in cricket who have taken recreational drugs and are still doing it, but I hope Tom Maynard's tragic story will make them stop.

"There are around 400 professional cricketers in England and it would be naive to think Tom's is an isolated case. There are bound to be more who have taken drugs in the past or are still doing it now.

"The England and Wales Cricket Board is going to introduce more testing for recreational drugs and that will frighten a few into cleaning up their acts."

An ECB statement confirmed: "While the ECB accepts that recreational drug use is a part of modern society, we do not condone it and will take all reasonable steps to prevent its use within the game.

"We also believe we have a responsibility to educate all our players and are committed to supporting any player who needs help in this area.

"Surrey CCC began its own investigations into conduct at the end of last season and introduced a team-wide anti-drug policy which all players and management are required to abide by. Working in partnership with ECB and PCA further recommendations have been initiated.

"The ECB Board has recently agreed to develop an out-of-competition testing programme to encompass recreational drugs, in co-operation with the PCA."

England batsman Ian Bell agreed with his former skipper, telling the BBC: "Other sports are doing it. It's important what has happened doesn't happen again.

"It is important that whatever is put in place... what has happened, never happens again. Obviously it's sad but hopefully with things being put in place we can stop this happening in future."

Vaughan added that while Surrey may have lacked experienced mentors in the past, as many of the players were very young last season, he felt that the signings of South Africa captain Graeme Smith and Australia legend Ricky Ponting would be valuable next season.

He said: "There was a lack of those players at Surrey 12 months ago but next summer they will have Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting. Two men who are exactly the right kind of role models for young kids making their way in cricket."