Oct 2007 : Sri Lanka lost the ODI Series against England 2-3.
Nov 2007 : Marvan Atapattu, who was dropped by the selectors after he refused to meet them, was later included in the test squad following the intervention by Sports Minister, Gamini Lokuge.
Test Series against Australia :
1st Test – Sri Lanka’s first innings were a flop as they were bowled out for 211 in response to a huge Australian total of 551/4d. But, in the second, they piled up 300 mainly thanks to a solid 82 from Michael Vandort. But, other batsmen fail to make an impression and they lose the test by an innings and 40 runs.
Talk about Muppets and Puppets : Marvan Atapattu top scored in the first innings with 51 in his return to Test cricket after a lapse of 2 years. Following this, he spoke to the media and criticized the selectors saying that “Sri Lanka cricket is not going the way it should be because it is a set of muppets headed by a joker.” However, frank he may be in his claim, while some applauded his courage to speak out, being a former Captain, his behavior was received with displeasure by others.
2nd Test – In reply to Australia’s 542/5 in the first innings, Sri Lanka got only 246, with the larger roles played by Mahela Jayawardene who hit his 19th test century and Kumar Sangakkara who made 57. Having to make a huge 507 to win the test match in the fourth innings, yet Sri Lanka didn’t give up hope. Marvan Atapattu made a sound 80, in what was to be his last test innings, Sanath Jayasuriya, a somewhat 45 and Sangakkara, an extremely beautiful 192, before being bowled out for 410. Sangakkara, who was in a mission to single handedly win the test, took to the strong Australian bowling attack to hit a strokeful 192, his 3rd consecutive 150+score. At 364/9, a ball that hit his shoulder was caught by Ricky Ponting off Stuart Clark. Following the player appeals, Umpire Rudy Koertzen most wrongly ruled him out. Although he had apologized to Sangakkara soon afterwards, by such an unacceptable decision, he not only ended any hopes Sri Lanka had of an outstanding series levelling victory, but also cut short a double century, Sangakkara really deserved.
Post Match : Marvan Atapattu announced his retirement from International Cricket.
Atapattu, who made his Test debut against India at Chandigarh in 1990 was an elegant batsman, one of the most technically accurate players of the game. He made 16 centuries, out of which, 6 were double centuries. Together with Sanath Jayasuriya, the pair formed the most successful opening combination for Sri Lanka. He played 90 Tests, averaging 39.02 with a career best of 249.
He was equally successful in one-dayers, hitting 11 hundreds and 59 fifties. With more than 8000 ODI runs to his name, he also captained the team from 2003 to early 2005, until an injury forced him to be out of cricket for sometime.
After a continous row with the current selectors, especially for not giving him a single game at the 2007 World Cup, he hit out at the selectors halfway between the Australia series. After the match, he announced his retirement from international cricket and joined the controversial ICL.
“Marvelous Marvan” was a great player for Sri Lanka over the years, one that no doubt would be missed, but the respect he earned as a Sri Lankan player has been marred by his recent comments against the selectors, and that too in a foreign country.
Nevertheless, We Wish Marvan Samson Atapattu a great future !
== Sri Lanka Cricket == 