Swann in 'cheat' blast at Sri Lankan batsman Perera after heated tour opener



Graeme Swann has launched an attack on cricket's cheats after England's first tour match threatened to boil over in the extreme heat and humidity of the Sri Lankan capital.



England's innings and 15-run victory over a Sri Lankan Board XI exploded on Saturday when Dilruwan Perera appeared to offer a routine catch to Andrew Strauss at slip off Jimmy Anderson but refused to walk. With the umpire unsighted and unable to confirm that the catch had carried, he was given not out.



That sparked angry scenes at the Premadasa Stadium with several England players telling Perera exactly what they thought of him, including an outraged Swann who resumed his assault not just on Perera but on cricket's 'cheating culture'.



Plenty to say: Graeme Swann (left) is interviewed in Colombo on Sunday

'It was very difficult to take because it was so blatantly out and I'm just glad I live in an age where the DRS is in place,' said Swann. 'The thing that annoyed me was that the batsman stood there knowing 100 per cent he was out but chose to cheat.



'He then opened himself up to the level of abuse that was coming to him. To be honest I'm glad Straussy was there because I think it would have gone further than that had we not had someone with a bit of intelligence and nous to calm things down.



'It was just cheating but we live in an age where cheating is accepted in our game. If you don't walk and get away with it no-one seems to say anything. I don't agree with that.'

The incident was all the more unnecessary because it came with the Board XI certain of defeat at 63 for seven but Perera is far from alone in standing his ground and waiting for the officials to decide if a catch has carried. England's off-spinner insists this is wrong.



'I understand when people say they will leave it to the umpire but again I question their morality to be honest,' said Swann. 'The same people who say "leave it to the umpire" will then say you have to take their word if they catch it. It's horrific double standards and it's against the spirit of the game. If you know you're out then you walk off the field in my view. This is an ideal world I'm talking about.'



Flashpoint: England argue as Swann has words with Dilruwan Perera



There is no question that England allowed the incident to get to them, a situation perhaps exacerbated by conditions here at this time of year which must rank among the toughest in cricket. The temperature here is in the early 30s but it is matched by such extreme humidity that even the fittest England team of all time's physical and mental sharpness will be tested to the full.



'There was a lot of confusion at first as to why it hadn't been given out because we didn't even appeal for it. It was so obviously out that we just celebrated,' said Swann.

'Jimmy wasn't happy and Straussy was understandably miffed that his word hadn't been taken and his integrity had been questioned. And I wanted to kill the batsman because he was cheating and was stood next to me with a smug look on his face!



'I think we may have got close to overstepping the mark but Straussy calmed it down very well. It wouldn't have happened in a Test because it would have been one of those where if you looked up at the screen it would have looked appalling. And the batsman would have been shown up.



'It wasn't even a low catch. It was six inches off the ground. I just suggested he was a cheat. Some people must have guilty consciences when they sleep at night.'



Captain cool: Swann credits Andrew Strauss (left) with defusing the row with Perera

Swann's views would not find total agreement within the England camp where 'walking' is far from official policy. Strauss, indeed, is one who has been known to stand his ground when it has looked pretty clear that he has been out. But not for the first time, England's extrovert spinner is determined to be his own man.



'I walk but you don't often get the chance to when you're caught at mid-off or cover!' said Swann. 'Selective walkers you could argue are worse than someone who just stands there but it's a very personal thing. One day I might get a faint tickle and I can prove to the world that I am a walker by heading off .



'I never used to be like this because I was brought up to not walk but it's something that has built up in me over the years. Something just doesn't seem right about it. It's like watching your team play football. If Demba Ba dived to earn a penalty for Newcastle I'd feel very uneasy about it – unless it was against Sunderland!

'If you play in a team and you know someone has cheated it just doesn't sit right. You'd like to think our game was a bit different but clearly it isn't.'



England play their final warm-up game ahead of the first Test against a Sri Lankan Development XI with Swann aware of the challenge ahead.



'I think it will be our toughest physical challenge,' he said. 'I don't particularly like the heat and it's rocket hot out there and humid too.



'We knew it was going to be tough which is why we came out here early but even if we were here for six months before the first Test I think it will have been a struggle for those of us who don't enjoy the sun. We just have to get on with it.'



