As England and Sri Lanka prepare for the third and deciding Test match in Colombo on Thursday, the match referee has admitted he has never officiated in such a contentious Test series.

"The first two Test were by far the most difficult of all I've done so far," Hanumant Singh exclusively told BBC Wales Sport.

"A lot of appealing has been putting pressure on the umpires; and the TV cameras from all angles and the slow motion replays aren't helping either.

"But mistakes occur - it's nothing new, they have happened before. Umpires are human, they don't get the benefit of the replays.

"It cuts both ways, so the players have to learn to accept this in good grace and in good sportsmanship."

Dissent

The behaviour of players on both teams in the first two Tests gave Singh considerable cause for concern.

So far he has administered fines to six players - five Sri Lankans and one Englishman.

The most severe punishment was handed to Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who was given a suspended four-match ban and fined 60 per cent of his match fee after showing dissent following his dismissal in the first innings of the second Test.

England's Michael Atherton and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara escaped with a "final warning" about their behaviour in the same Test after they were involved in a heated confrontation on the field.

Singh said he was "very disappointed" at having to take such action against the players, especially since it was to the obvious detriment of the game.

Duty

He added: "The players must realise they are the foremost guardians of the game and they have a responsibility to play the game the way it was meant to be played.

"But I think the captains are aware of what needs to be done to ensure the rest of the series goes smoothly. There's no need for me to talk to them about it."

Singh stressed, however, that further indiscipline would be severely dealt with.

"I can't predict what I would do. But if I feel there's something wrong, I'll take the necessary action," he said.

"But hopefully, we'll have another exciting game of cricket without any rancour."