Chris Adams has escaped disciplinary action by the English Cricket Board following his row with David Constant.

An ECB spokesman confirmed last night: "We are not taking any further action. He apologised to David Constant and that was accepted, end of story."

Adams confronted Constant in the umpires' room at Hove after he was given out lbw the last ball before tea last Saturday during the Championship defeat against Warwickshire. He went back at the end of play to say sorry.

The incident was mentioned in the reports of Constant, his colleague George Sharp and Warwickshire skipper Neil Smith. Dave Gilbert, Sussex's general manager, said: "Chris apologised. The ECB noted that and have chosen to understand the situation. Chris is obviously extremely sorry for the whole incident, but now we can close the chapter."

Smith thinks Adams has been let off lightly. "If it had been a Warwickshire player I would have pushed the club to have taken action against him," he said. "That sort of behaviour is unnecessary and not called for in any way, shape or form."

Meanwhile, former Sussex batsman Bill Athey is predicting Adams' side will "come good." The coach of current opponents Worcestershire, on crutches after knee surgery, said: "Sussex haven't had the best of starts, but they will come good.

"One or two of their key players aren't really firing. They may warm up as the season goes on, although hopefully not against us!"

Only 13 overs were possible on a rain-ruined first day at Hove, Sussex reaching 51-1.