The England and Wales Cricket Board raked over the embers of Croft's shoving incident with Mark Ilott at Chelmsford last week, which led to £1,000 fines imposed by Glamorgan and Essex, their respective counties.
The pair escaped an immediate suspension only because of their ``exemplary'' record. Instead, the ECB's three-man panel of David Gabbitass, the chairman, Alan Moss and Professional Cricketers' Association representative Alan Fordham ruled that they would be banned from two NatWest Trophy matches, suspended for two years.
Announcing the result of the hearing, Gabbitass said: ``We feel the fine of £1,000 is just in all circumstances and those fines stand. We feel the fines in themselves are insufficient punishment for acts of physical confrontation on the field.
``Normally, in addition to financial penalties, there would be an immediate suspension, but having regard to the mitigation put before us and the exemplary character of both players, there will be a suspension from two NatWest Trophy matches on each player starting in season 1998.
``However, that suspension will itself be suspended for two years, subject to their continuing good behaviour in all matches during that period.''
The notoriety that this unusual incident between fielder and batsman attracted - the NatWest Trophy semi-final was televised live on BBC - persuaded the ECB to make further inquiries, and both players attended yesterday's hearing.
David Graveney, chairman of England's selectors, said Phil Tufnell deserved his chance as the main spinner for the sixth Test, which starts at the Oval tomorrow, and he emphasised that Croft's omission had nothing to do with the disciplinary hearing.
``I want to emphasise this is a cricketing decision,'' he said. ``We feel that a change of angle is needed, a bowling decision. The Australians haven't necessarily mastered Robert, but they've obviously got used to him. Tuffers is keen to play.''
Tufnell had played no first-team games for Middlesex for three weeks, apart from one 40-overs match, before last weekend's innings defeat by Surrey.
The left-armer, who travelled with England in all five previous Tests before being omitted from the final team, said it had been a frustrating ``stop-start'' season.
He said: ``It has been a bit of a strange year driving around all the time and playing on green wickets. You've just got to keep yourself motivated.''
England's management expressed concern at Dean Headley's heel injury, which they said had been slow to clear up. Peter Martin will be guaranteed a return for his eighth Test if the Kent fast bowler has to withdraw.
The Australians announced yesterday that they had selected Shaun Young, the all-rounder with Gloucestershire, for his Test debut. Geoff Marsh, the coach, said it had been a ``tough decision'' deciding between Young and Shane Lee, the Lancashire League all-rounder who played for Somerset last year.
Mark Waugh reported flu symptoms yesterday and did not join the Australian morning practice at the Oval.