The two England bowlers were seen to argue and shove each other during the NatWest Trophy semi-final match between Essex and Glamorgan just before play was suspended for bad light.

Each player was warned as to his future conduct, and the county disciplinary panels took into account their good disciplinary record in professional cricket and their unreserved apologies. These severe fines should persuade the England Cricket Board not to impose further penalty beyond another reprimand.

Glamorgan said, in a statement, that they took ``the most serious view of any aggressive physical contact by player upon player'' and that they were punishing Croft heavily as an example to other players.

``The panel had no doubt as to his genuine remorse for what had occurred and accepted his explanation that heat and tension at the end of a pulsating match had contributed to an outburst between two men who were - and are - friends.''

Essex's statement accepted Ilott's behaviour was ``totally out of character'' and said: ``The club takes a very serious view of such behaviour which cannot be condoned.''

The argument began when Croft, fielding, criticised Ilott, batting, for appealing against the light and, while the umpires were conferring, the two players clashed. Both described it as a ``heat of the moment'' incident.

Essex, who needed six runs to win with two wickets remaining, ach ieved their victory the following morning and will meet Warwickshire in the final at Lord's on Sept 6.