Simsek: 'The only option available is that he [Atapattu] has got to have surgery now' © AFP

Marvan Atapattu, the Sri Lankan captain, has been ruled out of the three-Test series in England beginning in April because of a recurring back injury.

Jehan Mubarak will replace Atapattu while Mahela Jayawardene will lead the side with Kumar Sangakkara as his vice-captain. Atapattu missed the home series against Pakistan but was picked in the 16-member squad for England subject to a fitness Test.

Following the news Atapattu said: "It is so sad that I am not able to make the tour. England is a special place for any cricketer to perform. On my part I am reaching the end of my career and would have loved to make some runs there," but added, "Health comes first before cricket."

Atapattu was the leading scorer for Sri Lanka on their last tour to England in 2002 topping the Test batting with 277 runs at 55 from three Tests and a highest score of 185 at Lord's. It was in England that he also made his highest one-day international score of 132 not out at Lord's, to help Sri Lanka win the triangular series in 1998, an innings which he still regards as his best in this form of the game.

Lalith Kaluperuma, the chairman of selectors, told AFP. "When he sat out of the Pakistan series we were expecting that he would recover in time and be available for the tougher challenge in England, but he has failed to recover. Obviously it's a severe blow for us. He was our best batsman in England four years ago in the Test series and with him out we will find it extremely difficult to fill that slot."

Tommy Simsek, the physiotherapist, said that Atapattu may have to undergo surgery if he wanted to prolong his career. "Marvan's problem was that the disc bone on his back was touching a nerve and we were hoping that it would heal naturally with rest, but a scan a few days back revealed that there's no improvement," said Simsek. "The only option available is that he has got to have surgery now."