LONDON, July 14: English cricket bosses insisted Sunday no disciplinary action would be taken against captain Nasser Hussain following his emotional reaction after making a maiden one-day international century.

After reaching three figures Hussain turned towards the media centre at Lord’s, held up three fingers and pointed to the number three on his back with some reports suggesting he also mouthed an obscenity.

Hussain’s gestures were in response to recent English media suggestions - notably from former England players Jonathan Agnew, Ian Botham and Bob Willis - that the Essex batsman’s scoring rate was too slow for one-day international cricket and more aggressive players should bat at number three.

Match referee and former South Africa all-rounder Mike Procter decided not to take any action against Hussain after witnessing the incident even though the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct states:

Nevertheless England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tim Lamb said he would be following Procter’s example.

Hussain himself said: “It wasn’t aimed at the media in general, who’ve been very fair to me.

“I’m sure most people don’t give a monkeys but there have been one or two gentlemen who’ve been permanently on my case about this batting position, putting me under pressure.

“I suppose I’m old enough and ugly enough to take it, but they have laboured it. I was gesturing with my body that I bat at number three and I felt I’d proved a point on the biggest of stages.”—AFP