Essex cricket captain Ronnie Irani accused Shane Warne of calling his mother a "whore" after the pair became involved in a heated exchange during an English county match.

Irani and Hampshire skipper Warne were ordered to meet with umpires Graham Burgess and Mike Harris before play resumed as the feud threatened to continue off the field.

Warne, standing in the slips, became involved in a slanging match with Irani when the former England allrounder was batting during Essex's second innings.

A group of supporters who heard the sledging barrage between the pair reported that Irani had sworn at Warne but the Englishman later responded to the allegation.

"What would you say if someone behind you is telling you your mother was a whore?" Irani said.

Australian leg-spinner Warne, who at one stage prodded Irani in the chest, would not comment on the incident after the game which his team lost by 384 runs - Hampshire's biggest defeat since 1896.

Irani remarked: "What was said on the field, stays on the field.

"What can you say about Warney?

"I have tremendous respect for him as a player.

"He is one of the greatest players ever to have played the game and 500 or so Test wickets speaks for itself."

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