Sri Lanka appoint Marvan Atapattu as interim head coach

The Sri Lankan cricket board have appointed Marvan Atapattu as the team's interim head coach ahead of the upcoming tour of England.

Paul Farbrace's decision to join the England team as assistant to Peter Moores left Sri Lanka without a leader, but they have moved quickly to bring in their former captain.

Atapattu will be assisted by Ruwan Kalpage for the tour of England and the series against South Africa which follows later in the summer.

The 43-year-old, who played 90 Test matches for his country, is believed to be one of the favourites to be given the job on a permanent basis.

Sri Lanka will play England in two Test matches, five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 fixture during the tour.