Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore was fulsome in his support of under-fire seamer Ruchira Perera on Sunday following accusations that his action needed urgent remedial work.

"He's played around the world and he's never had this before," Whatmore said.

"He's had every encouragement from his team mates and the coaching staff and management.

"We should let the umpires do their job and not do it for them."

Perera took three wickets during the first innings of the Lord's match and was one of only two bowlers to take a wicket on Sunday as England's batsmen dominated.

On Saturday evening, England batsman John Crawley was invited to speculate on Perera.

But he insisted it was the players' job to play the game, not to comment on bowlers' actions.

The umpires have the power to stop a bowler if they feel he is throwing the ball - straightening the arm during his action - or they can report the player to the match referee.

Should they do so, the Sri Lankan board would be encouraged by the International Cricket Council, the sport's governing body, to work on the bowler's action.

Ban possible

A player reported three times within 12 months can face a ban from the game.

"We are disappointed that something like this has happened," Sri Lanka team manager Chandra Schaffter said. "We felt it was a little unfair."

The ICC said on Sunday that the 25-year-old Perera, in his seventh Test and yet to establish himself in the side, had not been reported to the referee by the umpires.

But it remains a possiblity that on-field officials Darryl Harper and Srinivas Venkatarghavan could wait until the end of the match on Monday before referring Perera.