Atapattu announces retirement

Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lanka captain, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The announcement came at the tail-end of Sri Lanka’s second innings of their second Test defeat at the hands of Australia.

The opening batsman was due to attend a hearing to discuss his controversial remarks about the powers of Sri Lanka cricket, when he commented that the selectors were “muppets headed by a joker” earlier on the tour. There were rumours then that he would be sacked from the team, but after his captain Mahela Jayawardene issued his support, he was kept on.

Despite the controversy, Atapattu proved to be one of the most consistent Sri Lanka batsmen in the a series where the team generally struggled. He finished top scorer with 298 runs at an average of 37.25, signing off with a composed 80 in his final innings.

The news comes also in the wake of talk linking Atapattu to the Indian Cricket League, where it is expected he will lead Delhi Jets.

For a time Atapattu was one of the key players for Sri Lanka, though he started his Test career with 5 ducks and a single in his first 6 innings. But as a technically correct batsman, he forged a fine career, playing as a first-choice opener and then receiving the captaincy in 2004. He went out of the game with a chronic back injury soon after and fell out of favour with the selectors. Jayawardene replaced him as captain and when he was recalled to the team for the 2007 World Cup, he was denied any playing time, though Sri Lanka reached the final and lost to Australia.

Jayawardene noted respectfully the manner in which his team-mate bowed out on his own terms. “You’ve got to respect that,” he said. “He felt it was the right time to leave Sri Lanka cricket and give others the opportunity. He made that decision himself, that was great.”

Over his 90 Tests, Atapattu scored 5502 runs at an average of 39.02, including 16 hundreds and 17 half-centuries. In limited overs cricket he managed 268 caps and scored 8529 runs at 37.57. Considered by many to be an underachiever, Atapattu numbered six double hundreds in Tests, yet averaged under 40 overall.

Aside from his future options on the field, Atapattu, now 36, will serve as a commentator for Channel Nine in Australia.