Atapattu slams selectors as ‘muppets’
Veteran batsman Marvan Atapattu made a withering attack on the Sri Lankan selectors, branding them “muppets headed by a joker”.
The former skipper also hit out at the politics that were ruining Sri Lankan cricket as the tourists lost almost all hope of saving the first Test at the Gabba.
Atapattu’s sensational post-stumps spray came after he was the only man to pass 50 as Sri Lanka was outgunned by Australia on a third straight day.
The 37-year-old opener batted for close to five hours as the sheet anchor in making 51 before Sri Lanka were rolled for 211 and forced to follow on 340 runs in arrears.
Atapattu, dismissed for 16 as his side lurched to 2-80 in the second innings, let his frustration out on the selection panel which initially overlooked the right-hander for the two-Test tour.
He was only added to the 17-man squad when Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister intervened late last month and cemented a place in the Test side with good form after premier batsman Kumar Sangakarra was injured.
Atapattu has endured a running feud with chairman of selectors Ashanta de Mel this year and branded him a joker who held a personal grudge against him.
The pair have a history dating back to 2004-05 when the then captain attacked the newly government-appointed de Mel by accusing him of blocking his attempts to blood new players
“Sri Lankan cricket, at this moment in time, is not going the way, the direction, it should be going,” he said.
“Especially with the muppets, basically, headed by a joker.
“If three guys are controlled by a joker you can do the wrong thing once, twice but not the third time. You can be called muppets then.”
Atapattu felt his controversial call-up to the squad showed the four-man selection panel had dropped the ball.
“I don’t give credit for the way they have handled things,” he said.
“If they have handled things well we should have a good back-up (batsman).
“For some reason we don’t have and at the age of 37 or 38 for people to come and play for Sri Lanka these become tough tours.”
Atapattu denied there was friction in the Sri Lankan dressing room but had a shot at tour selector Ranjith Madursinghe for feeding off the gravy train.
“We don’t have problems inside the dressing room but people from outside are trying to create unpleasantness - certainly through the media No.1 and that can be ex-cricketers who have been giving statements,” he said.
“People are trying to say it’s not a happy dressing room but it is.”
Atapattu showed fierce courage on the field also lasting 184 balls in a dogged half-century before mistiming a quick short ball from Mitchell Johnson to square leg.
He then made it his point in blasting the politics in Sri Lankan cricket in a stunning press conference.
Atapattu said the national board had no control over the selectors who were appointed by the government and gained their positions through cronyism.
“If selectors are only there for going on tours and getting whatever they are getting it’s a waste of time,” he said, adding the “right people” needed to be appointed.
“Just because you have political backing is not good enough for Sri Lanka. The board has no control as far as I am aware because these things come from the Minister of Sport and he appoints the selectors.”
Atapattu’s tour selection was the second controversial big-game choice this year after seam bowler Dilhara Fernando was chosen in the World Cup final against Australia days after being heavily criticised by the selectors. - AAP
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