An apology from Ray Jennings has averted a disciplinary committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday at which the Easterns coach would have been required to face a charge of bringing the game into disrepute.

The DC was constituted after a recent incident during the Easterns-Free State SuperSport Series match during which Allan Donald was struck on the head by a short ball from fast bowler Andre Nel. After the match allegations arose that Jennings had offered his bowlers financial inducements to hit opposition batsmen.

Jennings initially denied the allegations, but in a statement issued on Tuesday he conceded that "the question of a monetary reward was offered by me to the players in jest and was perhaps taken seriously by certain of the younger players".

As a result of this apology, which has been accepted by Donald, the hearing has been cancelled.

The full text of Jennings' statement is: "Various methods are used by me to motivate peak performance from my players. It was never my intention, nor will it ever be my intention to incentivise for reward a player to cause physical injury to another player. Banter in the dressing room, just like sledging on the field, has always been part of the game and will continue to be. I am prepared to concede that the question of a monetary reward was offered by me to the players in jest and was perhaps taken seriously by certain of the younger players. I regret any such misinterpretation which, I have said, was not my intention."

The United Cricket Board said on Tuesday that as a result of Jennings' statement, Free State coach Andy Moles had withdrawn an official complaint about the incident and as a result there was no need for the disciplinary hearing to take place.

Donald, meanwhile, responded by saying: "No matter how big or small this issue was, it could have been settled on the day it happened, but I accept what Ray Jennings has now said and I'm glad it's been resolved."

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