Sri Lanka captain to miss series
Sri Lanka captain to miss series
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Monday, 17, Apr 2006 09:34
Sri Lanka will be without their captain Marvan Atapattu when they tour England later this month.
Atapattu missed the tour of Bangladesh but had hoped to return to fitness in time for the trip to Britain.
His chronic back pain is threatening to force the 35-year-old batsman into retirement after the agony resurfaced when he attempted to make a comeback in the series against Pakistan.
Atapattu has scored over 5,000 Test runs and 16 centuries in a glittering career. He particularly enjoyed himself on the last tour of England scoring a massive 185 at Lords in 2002.
Mahela Jayawardene will take over as captain and Kumar Sangakkara will be the vice-captain in the Test and one day series.
Sri Lanka physio Tommy Simsek explained: "A scan has revealed that there is no improvement and we have to consider surgery.
"We were hoping that the injury would heal naturally with rest."
It appears that Atapattu may be out of action for much of the rest of the year.
Sri Lanka embark on the tour next Wednesday. They will face England in three Test matches and five One Day Internationals.