Marvan Atapattu quits as Sri Lanka’s head coach

Marvan Atapattu quits as Sri Lanka’s head coach: Former Sri Lankan Test opening batsman Marvan Atapattu has resigned as head coach of the national side in the wake of the recent Test series loss to India. Atapattu joined the Sri Lankan team as a batting coach in 2011. The 45-year-old, who played 90 Test matches and scored 5502 runs including 16 centuries, was elevated to the position of head coach in October 2014 after Paul Farbrace resigned.

Sri Lanka lost the series against India, giving the visitors their first win on Sri Lankan soil in 22 years. Sri Lanka managed to win the first Test at Galle by  63 runs but lost the remaining two Tests by huge margins.

The high point of Atapattu’s coaching career was the series victory against England in May-June 2014. Atapattu was a solid opener and played most of his matches alongside the explosive Sanath Jayasuriya. The elegant right-handed opener, known for his patience, scored six double centuries in Tests.

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Sri Lankan team came for huge criticism after the series loss to India which was also their 2^nd consecutive defeat in a home Test series after Pakistan beat them earlier by the same margin. Atapattu failed to iron out some of the technical deficiencies of Sri Lanka’s batsmen which were glaringly visible in the series. The Lankans failed to come up any counter attacking plan to R Ashwin who was on fire. However Skipper Angelo Mathews’ job is safe as he has the backing from his players and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)

A media realease from Sri Lanka cricket read:

“We would like to inform you of the resignation of Mr. Marvan Atapattu from the post of Head Coach of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team which has been accepted by Sri Lanka Cricket. Sri Lanka Cricket thanks Mr. Atapattu for his efforts as Head Coach and Batting Coach of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team, and we wish him every success in all his future endeavors”.