Cricket-Back injury forces Atapattu out of England tour

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Apr 17 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's captain Marvan Atapattu will miss his team's forthcoming tour of England after failing to recover from a career-threatening back injury.

Mahela Jayawardene has been appointed captain and Kumar Sangakkara vice-captain for the ten-week, three-test tour starting later this week.

The 35-year-old Atapattu now faces probable surgery in an attempt to resolve a chronic lower back problem that is threatening to force him into retirement.

''We were hoping that the injury would heal naturally with rest but a scan has revealed that there is no improvement and we now have to consider surgery,'' physiotherapist Tommy Simsek told Reuters.

Jehan Mubarak has been named as Atapattu's replacement. The 25-year-old has played seven tests with a top score of 48.

Sri Lanka depart for England on Wednesday and begin the tour with a three-day game against a British Universities team at Cambridge from April 24.

The tourists then take on England in the first test at Lord's starting on May 11, followed by a five-match ODI series between June 17 and July 1.

REUTERS PM HS1146