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Colombo - England off-spinner Graeme Swann has reportedly accused Sri Lanka batsman Dilruwan Perera of cheating after the batsman disputed he was out caught and refused to walk.
The incident occurred during a three-day warmup match between England and a Sri Lanka Board XI, which the touring side won by an innings and 15 runs at the weekend.
The Sri Lankans were 63-7 in their second innings and facing defeat when Perera edged seam bowler James Anderson to Andrew Strauss at slip. The England captain claimed the catch but Perera stood his ground and the umpires gave him not out, resulting in a heated argument between the batsman and England's fielders.
Swann was quoted as saying in Monday's edition of the Island newspaper that Perera "chose to cheat."
"The batsman stood there knowing 100 percent that he was out and chose to cheat, in my view," said Swann, who took 3-33 in the second innings. "I think the batsman opened himself to the level of abuse that came at him.
"We live in an era where cheating is accepted in Test cricket. You nick it and don't walk and no one seems to say anything. But I don't agree with that."
Both teams will play another warmup match before the two-Test series starts next Monday.
