Marvan Atapattu appointed head coach of Sri Lankan cricket team

Marvan Atapattu

Former Sri Lanka opener Marvan Atapattu has been appointed the Sri Lankan cricket team’s head coach for the Islanders’ tour to Ireland and England and their home series against South Africa.

Ruwan Kalpage, the former Sri Lankan off-spinner and Sri Lanka’s fielding coach, has been chosen as Atapattu’s assistant.

The appointment comes following the resignation of Paul Farbrace, the previous head coach, earlier this week.

Atapattu had previously thrown his hat into the ring for the role of head coach when Graham Ford resigned and had made it to the final round of interviews before Englishman Farbrace was given the job. The 43-year old Atapattu has been Sri Lanka’s assistant coach since March 2013 and was Sri Lanka’s batting coach for three years prior to that.

Although Atapattu has earned praise for his tactical knowledge, he was deemed to be ‘not ready’ for the head coach position last year. Both Farbrace and Ford, however, have publicly lauded his work ethic.

Atapattu and Kalpage have been appointed based on the recommendations of a 3-man coach selection committee, featuring chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya, head of coaching Jerome Jayaratne, and cricket committee chairman Ranjit Fernando. Jayasuriya had indicated earlier that his one time opening partner could be given additional responsibility immediately after Farbrace’s resignation while stating that there was not enough time left to appoint a permanent head coach before the upcoming tour to Ireland and England.

“We should look to give responsibility to Marvan, because he’s been around for a few years,” Jayasuriya had said. “The bowling and fielding coaches will also have to take a lot of responsibility.