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Smith clashes with Sreesanth

Durban - Firebrand Indian fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has been accused of making personal remarks during an altercation with South African captain Graeme Smith.

Sreesanth and Smith appeared to exchange words and Smith pointed his bat at the bowler shortly before he was dismissed by Sreesanth for 37 on the third day of the second Test at Kingsmead.

"Graeme doesn't normally react in those sort of situations. It must have been something personal," said South African slow bowler Paul Harris.

"I know Sreesanth has said a few personal comments on the field which is not great."

Harris said the series had been played in a good but competitive spirit.

"It's number one and number two playing against each other and every now and again it will boil over. It's Test cricket and people want to see that.

"We want to see it played hard on the field but not getting personal. It's a fine line and we don't want to see players cross that. If it was personal, and I've heard it was, I think we should stamp it out of the game."

Indian batsman VVS Laxman said he was not sure what happened.

"But saying that, it is a series between two top teams and in a tussle like that it's bound to happen," Laxman said.

"It's not only Sreesanth saying something to Graeme Smith but their bowlers have come at us hard. Both teams want to win badly. The intensity at which the game is being played is high."

Sreesanth has been involved in several disciplinary issues, including a clash with his Indian Premier League and current India teammate Harbhajan Singh and an accusation that he repeatedly violated team discipline with his domestic team Kerala.

He had a heated confrontation with South African fast bowler Andre Nel on India's previous tour of South Africa four seasons ago and was once described as "an accident waiting to happen" by former Australian captain Ian Chappell.

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