FROM Mike Gatting's finger-jabbing row with an umpire, through ball-tampering allegations, spot-fixing and now Saeed Ajmal's bowling action – an England versus Pakistan series is rarely short of controversy.

After watching England's first-Test capitulation in Dubai from his home overlooking Combe Martin, Roy Palmer studied cuttings of brash tabloid coverage from 20 years ago and recalled how a sweater got caught up in a loop on his umpire's coat and left him caught up in his own chapter in the turbulent history of matches between the two countries.

"The rudest umpire in the world, they said I was," said Palmer.

"Pakistan supporters were chasing me down the road.

"It went on for a week, I was always on the television. It wasn't a very nice thing."

It was July 6, 1992, the fourth day of the drawn third Test at Old Trafford.

Frustrated by England avoiding the follow-on after his side had made 505 for nine, Javed Miandad, the captain, turned to Aaqib Javed to try to finish off the innings.

Soon England's last two batsmen – Tim Munton, like Palmer a Test debutant, and Devon Malcolm – were at the crease.

"Tim wasn't a very good batter and Devon was even worse," said Palmer.

"He had bowled some bouncers at the Pakistan batsmen but Javed Miandad could handle it, Devon Malcolm couldn't handle bouncers."

Aaqib bowled three in a row at the tailender – he was only permitted one – and was warned by Palmer for intimidatory bowling.

Pakistan were unhappy, but it was the seemingly simple act of returning the bowler's jumper and hat that caused an international incident.

"His sweater was in a loop on my coat and when I pulled it wouldn't come out," said Palmer who eventually freed the offending clothing with a firm tug and swung it into his left hand, which was holding Aaqib's hat.

"When I put them together and passed them to him he knocked the sweater to the floor and said I had thrown it."

Palmer was surrounded by protesting players, including the captain, and a spectator ran on to the field. Describing the incident, Wisden reported that "Palmer retained the dignity of a patient policeman watching a family squabble".

"We were walking off (at the end of the innings) and a policeman came on and said, 'I've got to escort you off the field'," said Palmer.

"I was getting boos from Pakistan supporters and 'Well done, Palmer' from the others.

"We had a big meeting afterwards and in the end I left because they (the Pakistan management) kept saying I threw the sweater."

Palmer's version of events was supported by slow-motion replays and Aaqib was fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

"It was an incident I could have done without," said Palmer. "I had another Test match, which I enjoyed, but again I got in hot water."

It was a year later and he was in the middle as a young man from Braunton, Mark Lathwell, made his England debut in the third Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. Palmer gave him out lbw to Shane Warne for 33 in the second innings of the draw.

"He couldn't pick him, Lathers," said Palmer. "Earlier, Warne had bowled him a googly and he padded up and I gave it not out.

"Warne went absolutely bonkers. He snatched his hat out of my hand and I wasn't very happy with that. I thought, 'When he comes back on and asks me to hold his hat I shall tell him where to stick it'."

After a complaint from Palmer, the Australian team were given a warning by Clive Lloyd, the match referee, about their behaviour.

"I told Bob Simpson (Australia's coach), 'It's a great honour to be out here with England and Australia, wonderful, best place to be, but the players are not going to treat me like dirt'.

"Warne bowled for nearly five hours at my end, all the time shouting and hollering. At the end of the day I was glad when I walked off the field. From then on, we never got on me and him.He was a terrific cricketer but not a nice chap to umpire.

"David Shepherd was a good umpire, nothing seemed to fluster him, he handled things nicely, not like myself – players could get my back up."

Perhaps it was a clash of personality between the immaculately turned-out umpire and the zinc-cream daubed Aussie larrikin. But Palmer got on famously with another of cricket's legendary characters.

"Ian Botham always excited me," he said. "If I watched him bat, it was electrifying. If he bowled from my end, it was brilliant because you were always on your toes.

"I had some fun with him and liked Beefy a lot but other umpires got on the wrong side of him. Some people you got on with in the game and others you didn't – I think that is true in all walks of life."

Palmer, a fast-medium bowler for Somerset in the Sixties, was on the first-class umpires list from 1979 to 2007, standing in 445 matches, but took charge of only two Tests.

"Do I wish I had umpired more Tests? Oh, yeah," he said, despite the controversy.

"When you umpire a Test match you are 22 yards away from the best players in the world. It's brilliant, absolutely brilliant."