Atapattu included for Australia tour

In a dramatic about-turn Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lanka captain, has been included in the Sri Lanka squad for the tour of Australia following a request made by the sports minister Gamini Lokuge.

Atapattu will join the team as the fourth opener - alongside Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga and Michael Vandort - increasing the tour party to 17 players. Atapattu was originally selected in the squad on the belief that he met the national selection committee and thrashed out his problems. But Atapattu refused to attend as long as Ashantha de Mel was the chief selector.

The matter was then taken up by Lokuge who summoned the national selectors and the hierarchy of Sri Lanka Cricket to sort out the issue. The outcome of the meeting was that the minister would speak to Atapattu and, if he was willing to tour Australia, he should be included in the team.

Atapattu asked for time to make a decision on the offer and was abroad on an official assignment in Rome. On his return on Thursday he met Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Duleep Mendis and informed him that he was available for the tour to Australia. "I met Duleep and we spoke about the terms and conditions under which I will be playing. I was satisfied with them and I told him that I was available for Australia," said Atapattu.

Atapattu's return to the national team marks the end of a six-month ordeal which began with the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean where Atapattu, although being a member of the team, was not selected to play in any of Sri Lanka's 11 matches in the tournament. He was then overlooked for the one-day series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and when the selectors named him for the home Tests against Bangladesh, Atapattu pulled out saying that he was not mentally prepared to play Test cricket.

Atapattu then wanted Sri Lanka Cricket to release him from his central contract and went onto play a season of league cricket in England with Lashings. He was subsequently left out of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament and the recently concluded one-day series against England.

"We would welcome Marvan into the team," said captain Mahela Jayawardene. "He is experienced and has done so well for Sri Lanka that you always welcome a guy like that. It all depends on how keen and committed he is to the team. That is the most important thing."
Sri Lanka leave for Australia on Tuesday and the first Test starts at Brisbane on November 8.

I don't think it has ever happened before, not even in India, atleast not being made public.

I mean a minister speaking to a player whether he wants to go on a tour. If that player says yes, everything is fine, his form, fitness, etc be damned.

Good batsman though. Will only add to SL's squad IMO.

SG wrote:I don't think it has ever happened before, not even in India, atleast not being made public.

I mean a minister speaking to a player whether he wants to go on a tour. If that player says yes, everything is fine, his form, fitness, etc be damned.

Marvan was used as a Pawn in the SL politics and one can only feel sorry for him.

What's the problem been? Is there an official line on this?

Anniyan wrote:

SG wrote:I don't think it has ever happened before, not even in India, atleast not being made public.

I mean a minister speaking to a player whether he wants to go on a tour. If that player says yes, everything is fine, his form, fitness, etc be damned.

Marvan was used as a Pawn in the SL politics and one can only feel sorry for him.

P-KB4

Batfink Begins wrote:Good batsman though. Will only add to SL's squad IMO.

Hasn't done much against Aussies though, an average of 28 in 9 tests.

SG wrote:

Batfink Begins wrote:Good batsman though. Will only add to SL's squad IMO.

Hasn't done much against Aussies though, an average of 28 in 9 tests.

Just think he's got a more solid technique than Tharedga or Vandort.
I could well be proved wrong.

Yep, thats a given. He has one of the better techniques in SL lineup.

I guess SG is Surender Goel who loves to have a poke at SL.

lardbucket wrote:What's the problem been? Is there an official line on this?

The problem is that the SL batsmen are not keen on touring Australia, so suddenly Attapatu is being remembered. I had heard this news some time back where Attapatu was asking the question openly on why is he only being mentioned on eve of a tour to Australia ?

I love it when newsreaders struggle with the Lankan names.

I heard Attapattu called Atta-poo-too today.

SG wrote:

Batfink Begins wrote:Good batsman though. Will only add to SL's squad IMO.

Hasn't done much against Aussies though, an average of 28 in 9 tests.

His last few innings had two centuries as well, one in Austrailia.