Prior defended England's on-the-pitch banter

The umpires spoke to England captain Michael Vaughan after Zaheer Khan waved his bat at Kevin Pietersen following a disagreement during India's innings.

"Test cricket is hard, we're all trying to win so you're going to have banter but no-one overstepped the mark.

"The game is played hard but in the right spirit," said Prior.

"I do enjoy it. It's part of the game and if you don't enjoy it then you're going to struggle.

"It's never nice when it's you batting and there's 11 blokes around you giving you a barrage.

"The importance of 11 people hunting together on the pitch and creating an intensity and an environment that is uncomfortable for people to bat in is very important."

I don't mind it as long as the chirping stops after I've taken my stance Dinesh Karthik

India batsman Sourav Ganguly admitted exchanges between the teams did sometimes get a bit heated, but stressed nothing improper had gone on at Trent Bridge.

"It does get intense in Test cricket and I'm sure it's happened in the past and I'm sure it's going to happen in the future," he said.

"There was a bit of noise at Lord's as well but that has become part and parcel of the sport."

However, opener Dinesh Karthik told The Times of India newspaper that he felt England players had gone too far by sledging him during the first Test at Lord's.

He said: "I don't mind it as long as the chirping stops after I've taken my stance.

"I was unhappy at Lord's because they were doing it even when I was ready to face the ball."