The incident took place at the close of play on the third day of the final Test against India at the Wanderers, which finished in a draw on Monday.

Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), said: ``After continual abuse from the spectator, McMillan grabbed him by the chest and pushed him against a combi (mini-bus) outside the Wanderers dressing-room.

``He then walked away to his wife and child. The spectator fell to the ground but witnesses confirmed that he was intoxicated and did not fall because of Brian pushing him or assaulting him.''

Bacher acknowledged the fine should have been made public immediately by the UCBSA. ``We owe it to the public,'' he said.

McMillan said he had been severely provoked but regretted the push. ``He was abusing me in front of my wife and the wife of Indian opener Woorkeri Raman.

``After being asked to stop he continued with the verbal abuse so I pushed him against the combi. But I did not punch him.''

McMillan topped the batting averages in the three-Test series, won 2-0 by South Africa, scoring 296 runs at an average of 98.67.

It had already been announced McMillan would miss the forthcoming triangular one-day series with India and Zimbabwe because of an inflamed tendon in his heel.

It was the second incident involving a player and a spectator in a Test at Wanderers in the last few years. The Australian pace bowler, Merv Hughes, received a one-game suspension after attacking a spectator with a bat during a Test at the South African ground in the 1994-1995 season.