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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from England

BIRMINGHAM, Wednesday - England batsman Mark Butcher became the latest cricketer to make an outburst against a Sri Lankan bowlers' action when he made critical remarks against fast bowler Ruchira Perera in a local newspaper.

In his weekly column for the 'Surrey Advertiser' and published today in the 'Daily Mail' Butcher accused Perera of 'chucking'.

Butcher wrote: "Having faced him for some time, I can say that he definitely straightens his arm. It's not so bad when the ball is pitched up but when he bowls short he just runs up and throws it at you. It's extraordinary and I can't believe someone is getting away with it".

Butcher's comments may lay him open to a disrepute charge from either the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) or the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Players and match officials are debarred from making any kind of disparaging remarks against another player according to the ICC Code of Conduct.

In a press conference held here today, Butcher was apologetic to what he had said and was sorry if he had caused Perera any embarrassment.

Perera was reported to the ICC by the two umpires who officiated in the first Test at Lord's last week and at present, he is remedying his bowling action with the assistance of team bowling coach Darryl Foster. Sri Lanka team manager Chandra Schaffter said today: "It concerns us very much that there suddenly seems to be remarks of this nature with Mr. (Adam) Gilchrist making some observations about a week ago and now, we have Mr (Mark) Butcher having said something. I believe that the ICC rules are very clear on statements made by players about opposing players and one can only hope the ICC will take very strong action to deal with these statements before the disease spreads further.

"If individuals try to do the work of umpires then it does become very disconcerting and as I said, coming so soon on the heels of what Mr. Gilchrist said, we are very very concerned. We hope that the ICC and the home boards will take some very strong action to stamp out this disease as quickly as possible," said Schaffter.

"I believe Perera knows about it. The team is becoming a little fed up of this type of thing because it seems to be growing rather than decreasing.

"I am only concerned that the very senior players of international stature who know the rules of the ICC, have breached those rules or have seemingly breached them". he said.

Last week Adam Gilchrist, the Australian wicket-keeper and vice-captain criticised the bowling action of Muttiah Muralitharan in Melbourne and was reprimanded by the Australian Cricket Board.

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