Hussain and Flower face rap after England win

Nasser Hussain, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower and young England wicketkeeper James Foster face a disciplinary hearing after heated exchanges in the third one-day international on Sunday.

International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Colonel Naushad Ali will hold the hearing after the trio were involved in clashes during England's series-clinching win at Harare.

Flower, who made 142 not out, survived an appeal for caught behind off medium pacer Paul Collingwood when on 51, leading to an exchange of words with the England captain.

Foster became involved later when Flower was given not out in similar circumstances when on 99, the rival players standing eyeball to eyeball and exchanging gestures.

"It was feisty out there," Hussain said. "It was a good competitive game and we will see what happens now.

"I would rather have people on my side with a bit of character and fight.

"That's the way I have been brought up. We have to play it the right way and that's what we'll try and do. It wasn't just Foster."

Flower added: "I'm not allowed to talk about umpiring decisions.

"But it was competitive out in the middle and that's okay. I was trying to get myself into an aggressive frame of mind out there, that's all.

"I don't think anything should happen at all, to be honest...I'm sure the crowd loved watching it and it made the game more exciting. I don't think there is anything wrong with that."

Foster, 21, in only his third match, added he was sure Flower had been out just after making his half-century, adding: "After the second incident he said something and then I got upset and gave it back to him and then he started having a go at me."

The outcome of the hearing will only be made public on Monday.

England have made sure of taking the five-match series by winning the three opening games. They won Sunday's game by four wickets after Zimbabwe made 261 for eight.

Mail Cricket Editor