The ECB's chief executive, Tim Lamb, said the England coach had also ``again been warned about his conduct and left in no doubt as to the responsibilities which go with such a high-profile position.''

Lloyd said afterwards: ``I am sorry for the offence that I have caused. I am glad this whole business is over and I am looking forward to the Wills International Cup [in Bangladesh] and the Ashes tour.''

His remarks about Muralitharan's ``unorthodox action'' and a later verbal disagreement with the television commentator Geoffrey Boycott during the Oval Test landed Lloyd in trouble, and not for the first time.

He had previously been censured more privately by the board for suggesting that England had ``murdered'' Zimbabwe in 1996 despite drawing a Test.

The Sri Lankan cricket board asked their England counterparts to investigate Lloyd's remarks and yesterday he attended an ECB hearing conducted by Lamb, Simon Pack, the international teams' director, and personnel manager Lesley Portlock.

Coincidentally, the triumphant Sri Lankans threw a farewell champagne party at Heathrow airport yesterday at which representatives of the ECB were noticeable by their absence.

``We wanted this to be a joyous affair, to bid farewell to the team on an historic occasion,'' said a spokesman for the hosts, Air Lanka. A rapturous reception was expected for the team - who won the triangular one-day tournament as well as achieving their first Test victory in England - when they arrived back in Colombo.

But Lloyd's name was naturally on everybody's lips - not least Muralitharan's. He offered little sympathy for the coach in his present predicament. ``Its not my problem. I don't care what happens to him,'' he said.

In fact, according to Sri Lanka's captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, Lloyd's remarks only helped to inspire Muralitharan. He said: ``If the idea was to undermine Murali it backfired. It gave strength to him and made him even more determined. No coach should make comments like that.''

Ranjit Fernando, the tourists' manager, said that if a Sri Lankan coach made such comments ``he would receive very harsh treatment from our board''.

Muralitharan is one of four brothers and all have the same birth defect of a bent right forearm, a feature, along with a double-jointed wrist, that led to the Sri Lankan being called for throwing in Australia three years ago.

Three English counties, meanwhile, are said to be bidding for the spinner's signature. Fernando commented: ``It would be good for Murali provided he doesn't burn out. But he is a sensible person.''