Gough had a run-in during the Colombo match

England claim they were provoked on this occasion - Ranatunga had taken his team off the field in protest at Muttiah Muralitharan being called for throwing.

But the honest truth is that both teams bristle when they confront each other.

It is ironic that only days before this latest incident, Craig White was widely quoted as saying that sledging "fired him up".

We can, therefore, assume either that Perera, the bowler, overstepped the acceptable bounds in what he said to White.

Or that England - who are still smarting at the warning given to Gough during the opening match of the tour - deliberately want to be seen to be taking the high ground.

Gough fuming

People have written that this was a racist taunt, although the players involved will not comment.

However, it is perfectly feasible that White's name, shouted in a mouthful of Singhalese, could be referring to the player himself, rather than to the colour of his skin.

I prefer to believe the second option: that England are still fuming over the warning issued to Gough.

The Yorkshire paceman received a poor umpiring decision and then faced a blast of obscenities from the close fielder who had claimed the catch - which came off Gough's boot, incidentally.

England believe Gough was provoked into retaliating and should not have been reported, while the fielder escaped censure altogether.

Swearing as a tactic

Sledging - basically swearing at each other - developed in the 1970s and most will accept that the Australian's started it.

Cricket is an extremely intimidating sport. When you are batting, it is you and your partner against the world.

Anything to make the batsman more uncomfortable is bound to unsettle his concentration.

However, today's players accept this as being part and parcel of the sport - and if you cannot take it, you should not be playing at the highest level.

What is required is strong umpiring to keep everything under control and it is with some trepidation that I note that the two umpires on duty for the first Test - an Indian and a Sri Lankan - are virtually unknown.

So, too, the referee whose job it is to mete out fines and suspensions, if required.

In the warm-up games we have already had a taste of the hysterical, intimidating appealing the umpires will face on Thursday, and it is most unsavoury.

Unless the law is laid down immediately, I fear we can expect fireworks.