Rediff

Old Trafford, Jul 30: England wicketkeeper Matt Prior defended today his team's verbal exchanges with India's batsmen that culminated with a confrontation between Zaheer Khan and Kevin Pietersen.

After edging a boundary through the slips on the third day of the second test Khan confronted gully fielder Pietersen, forcing umpire Ian Howell to intervene.

The visitors finished the day 240 runs ahead with England needing to bat for most of the remaining two days if they are to save the match and prevent a 1-0 deficit in the three-match series.

''That (verbals) comes with the territory, it's international cricket, it's a hard game and we all want to win so you are going to have your banter but no one overstepped the mark,'' Prior told reporters.

''From what I saw nothing went over the line, we play the game hard, it is competitive, there's a lot at stake and sometimes things boil over.

''It's a tough game and people are under a lot of pressure and if you can do anything to get one up on your opponent you're going to try and do that as long as it's in the spirit of the game.

''The importance of 11 people hunting together on the pitch and creating intensity and an environment that is uncomfortable for people to bat in is very important.'' India's Saurav Ganguly was out for 79, the second batsman to fall to a controversial decision by umpire Simon Taufel after Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged lbw for 91.

He refused to comment on his dismissal, which potentially denied him a 14th test hundred, and also on what Pietersen was alleged to have said to Zaheer but he did agree the game was full of intensity.

''It does get intense in test cricket and I'm sure it's happened in the past and I'm sure it's going to happen in the future,'' Ganguly said.

''There was a bit of noise at Lord's as well but that has become part and parcel of the sport.''