Test captains to hold peace talks

Rival captains Nasser Hussain and Sanath Jayasuriya will meet for a peace summit here tonight in an attempt to take some of the heat out of tomorrow's deciding Third Test.

Sri Lanka skipper Jayasuriya said: "Both teams have to play the game the right way. I had a quick word with Nasser at breakfast this morning and we both want to calm things down. Hopefully we can sort things out by having a chat."

The first two Tests were soured by numerous umpiring errors, some frenzied appealing, instances of dis-sent and, in Kandy where England levelled the series, a finger-jabbing confrontation between Mike Atherton and Kumar Sangakkara.

"Apart from the little thing between Atherton and Sangakkara there's not been much of a problem between the players," said Jayasuriya. "But there's probably too much pressure been put on the umpires and too much appealing." Hussain, who expects to play despite a groin injury after coming through a 30-minute net session this morning, said: "Sanath asked whether we could have a chat later and I'm happy to do that. As I've said all along, he seems a decent bloke. We'll have a chat and see what we can do.

"I will be trying my hardest to make sure that our team play the game in the right way. I don't see much that my team has done wrong. If someone can come up with a list of things that the England cricket team has done wrong this winter then I'll happily have a look at it."

Meanwhile, International Cricket Council chief Malcolm Gray today urged administrators to emulate other sports by imposing tougher penalties on players who misbehave.

"Cricket has lagged behind in handling the players quickly," he said. "Other sports have made sure players do not go in a downward spiral."