Marvan Atapattu: Sri Lanka appoint ex-opener as full-time head coach

Marvan Atapattu (right) scored 16 Test centuries between 1990 and 2007

Sri Lanka have named Marvan Atapattu as their new head coach after a successful spell as interim coach.

The 43-year-old took over following the resignation of Paul Farbrace in April and has overseen Test series victories over England and Pakistan.

A former opening batsman, Atapattu played 90 Tests and 268 one-day internationals for his country, scoring more than 14,000 international runs.

He is the first Sri Lankan to coach his country full time for 15 years.

His predecessor Farbrace, who led Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 title in April, left later that month to become England's assistant coach.

Atapattu's first assignment as full-time coach will be a seven-game one-day series against England in November and December.