That suggests either bizarre oversight by officials in his earlier matches, or a gradual change since he made his Sri Lanka debut, in a one-dayer against England in Perth in January 1999. Pictures of that match taken from Sky Sports' video archives indicate that Perera's mode of delivery may indeed have altered. Certainly, there was no hint of illegality at the time as he cut a swathe through England's top order with three wickets in his first four overs. It may be considered more surprising that no official suspicions were raised during his three first-class warm-up matches of this tour.Perera made his Sri Lanka debut with the debate over throwing at its height. Only six days earlier in Adelaide his teammate, Muttiah Muralitharan, had been no-balled against England. Perera played in a second one-dayer in Perth two days after his debut when one of the umpires was Harper. He can have seen nothing untoward then but after the Lord's match he and Srinivas Venkataraghavan submitted their written concerns.Perera's action from the match will be assessed during the next six weeks, during which he is still entitled to play.

A report of that assessment will then be distributed to ICC umpires and officials. But at any time during this period he is subject to being reported again. An ICC spokesman said: "It should not be forgotten, despite the review process, that the umpires still have a right to make a call of no-ball out in the middle."There was widespread concern as soon as Perera was called on to bowl at Lord's. Sri Lanka, while mildly irritated at criticisms voiced during the game, agreed to follow ICC procedures.The bowler has some history against England.

After that Perth debut he next met them at Matara last year when he was involved in an altercation with the England all-rounder Craig White during a warm-up match. White was visibly shocked when, having drawn Perera's attention to a no-ball (for overstepping) he was subjected to a tirade of abuse understood to involve the colour of his skin.. From the moment he entered the scene at the age of 17, Alex Tudor was the next big thing He still is. The trouble is that seven years have passed without much change in this state of affairs. The months of injury and frustration, the periods when he has not performed or has bowled without pace or vigour, have never quite obliterated the perpetual notion that the second age of Tudor may be at hand.It is not quite a case of now or never, but he will be 25 later this year and next big things who are quick bowlers do not last much beyond that.Tudor spent a fruitful winter in the National Academy (mind you, who didn't?), he has had a solid start to the season with Surrey and he was desperately unlucky not to make the England team for the First Test.The biggest thing that has happened to the next big thing was that his long-term pelvic problem was finally diagnosed in the winter, which may possibly be the finest act the Academy ever performs. He was found to be suffering from osteitis pubis and an appropriate exercise regime was instituted to combat it. It will become increasingly difficult for England to overlook him.On his home ground – on the day that another fast bowler, Simon Jones, was hauled out of a short queue to join the squad for the Second Test – Tudor generally bowled with honest pace and frequent menace.