Nasser Hussain was not a happy man after England lost the First Test Match against Sri Lanka by an innings and 28 runs. He is upset with the antics of the opposition, by inconsistent interpretations of regulations by umpires and admitted that some of the players were disillusioned.

He started with a barbed compliment: "Sri Lanka are a very, very good side and I am not taking anything away from their victory, but I don't know why they needed to do those peripheral things."

England believe that Sri Lanka's players put the umpires in this match, Peter Manuel and A.V. Jayaprakash, under intolerable pressure by appealing excessively and charging the umpire. The Match Referee agrees, and has fined four of the players and warned Sanath Jayasuriya. They were also unhappy that the Sri Lankans walked freely on the wicket.

He went on: "I hope I can comment on the standard of umpiring, some of the appealing, some of the running on the wickets. I don't know whether I can as an international captain, although I think I probably should be able to. I now need time to think about the situation and speak to people; the players and the coach.

"I don't think this game needed all these controversies. It's been a very good game of cricket in which both sides played good cricket. What's gone on in the four-and-a-half days wasn't a professional game of cricket. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Towards the end I think the players were a bit disillusioned."

Hussain believes that ICC needs to address inconsistent international interpretations of the lbw rule: "I think the ICC has got to look at the interpretation of the lbw rule. In the next game two different umpires will stand, but this is dangerous because the interpretation of the rules may change. In India you might be given out sweeping and in England you may be given out playing across the line. My disillusion was not with the decision but with not knowing."

With reference to Sangakkara's catch of Atherton, he said: "If the ball doesn't actually carry or if there is any doubt, I don't know what the exact rule is as to whether they must refer (to the third umpire). I am a firm believer though that there is a guy up here and it takes him five minutes to decide whether people are out or not. Taking that time can be very important."

With the Second Test Match starting in eighth days time Hussain recognises that the team cannot dwell on the past: "I think mentally we have to draw a line under this game. We want to take a few days off and then sit down and chat and clear our minds, not think about the bad decisions and umpiring. The moment you start doing that you're gone."

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