Tufnell, 31, who has played 28 Tests, is due to tour West Indies this winter with England. Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, said the matter was ``potentially serious''. Middlesex have been in touch with Tufnell to inform him of the position.

One player from each side is chosen at random for testing in all major games and it is understood that Tufnell, the selected Middlesex player, failed to give a sample after the draw against Essex at Chelmsford last weekend. He took two wickets in the game but failed to score.

Tufnell has had a turbulent career. During England's tour of New Zealand last winter he was one of three people accused by the manageress of a Christchurch restaurant of smoking cannabis on the premises. He denied the allegation and was given the full backing of the England management.

Previously he had appeared in a London court in connection with a fracas with the father of a former girlfriend and to answer a series of motoring-related charges.

During the 1994-95 Ashes tour of Australia, he was admitted to hospital after his hotel room in Perth had been damaged. He later discharged himself and was fined £1,000 by England.

He returned to the England side at the Oval in August and took 11 wickets in the defeat of Australia.