Sporting legends: Marvan Atapattu- Sri Lanka 's technically proficient batting superstar - Career HLs , video


Marvan Samson Atapattu (born 22 November 1970, Kalutara, Sri Lanka) is one of Sri Lanka’s most technically accomplished opening batters. Known for his discipline, mental toughness, and classical strokeplay, he rose from a famously difficult start in Test cricket to become one of Sri Lanka’s most reliable top-order batsmen and later their national captain.

Style of Play

Batting

  • Right-handed opening batsman
  • Classical, textbook technique
  • Strong on drives, cuts, and late deflections
  • Master of patience and crease occupation
  • Renowned for big centuries once he got set (six Test double tons)

Bowling

  • Rarely bowled
  • Part-time right-arm medium-pace
  • Played a minimal role as a bowler

Fielding

  • Extremely safe fielder
  • Excellent at point and cover
  • Agile and quick across the field
  • Strong throwing arm and sharp ground fielding skills

International Career Highlights (In Detail)

Test Career

  • Matches: 90
  • Runs: 5,502
  • Average: 39.02
  • Centuries: 16 (including 6 double centuries)
  • One of Sri Lanka’s greatest opening batsmen
  • Known for monumental innings and long stays at the crease
  • Famous for his incredible comeback after scoring 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0 in his first three Tests

His biggest Test contributions include:

  • Multiple double centuries in Australia, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka
  • Key role in stabilizing the Sri Lankan top order during the early 2000s
  • Strong partnerships with Sanath Jayasuriya in contrasting styles

ODI Career

  • Matches: 268
  • Runs: 8,529
  • Average: 37.57
  • Centuries: 11
  • Sri Lanka’s dependable one-day opener for a decade
  • Excelled in rotation of strike and innings-building
  • Played crucial knocks in ICC tournaments
  • Often overshadowed by aggressive teammates but was Sri Lanka’s anchor in ODIs

First-Class Career

  • Matches: 255+
  • Runs: 14,591
  • Average: around 48
  • 50+ centuries
  • Represented Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) and domestic teams with great success
  • Known as a run-machine throughout domestic cricket

Captaincy Record

Atapattu captained Sri Lanka between 2003 and 2006.

  • Tests: 8

    • Won: 4
    • Lost: 4

  • ODIs: 38

    • Won: 23
    • Lost: 15

Captaincy Highlights:

  • Led Sri Lanka to ODI series wins in India and Pakistan
  • Developed a professional, disciplined team atmosphere
  • Groomed players like Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Dilshan and Malinga

Best Batting Performances (In Detail)

249 vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo (2004)

  • His highest Test score
  • A majestic innings filled with elegant cover-drives
  • Formed the backbone of Sri Lanka’s massive total
  • Demonstrated his ability to stay long and pile up huge scores

223 vs Zimbabwe, Kandy (1998)

  • One of his first big double hundreds
  • Controlled, patient, and technically flawless
  • Announced him as a world-class opener after a slow Test start

207 vs Pakistan, Peshawar (2000)

  • Against a high-class attack (Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis)
  • Showed his growing command against swing and reverse swing
  • One of the finest Sri Lankan overseas knocks

180 vs England, Galle (2001)

  • Match-winning innings
  • Mastered spin and seam on a slow surface
  • Built a strategic partnership with Jayasuriya

132 vs Australia, Sydney (2004) – ODI

  • One of his best ODI centuries
  • Tactical, composed, and beautifully structured
  • Helped Sri Lanka to a competitive total against a world-class Australian attack

Best Bowling Performances

(Atapattu bowled very rarely; no major international bowling performance.)

  • Best ODI bowling: 1/8
  • Best Test bowling: 0/5

Bowling was not part of his core skillset.

Legacy

Marvan Atapattu’s legacy is defined by:

1. One of Sri Lanka’s technically finest openers

A master technician in an era dominated by stroke-makers.

2. Symbol of perseverance

His early failures (5 ducks in first 6 innings) and incredible comeback set a global example of mental strength.

3. Conversion rate greatness

  • 16 Test centuries
  • 6 of them double centuries
    A rare achievement in world cricket.

4. Top-order stabilizer

For over a decade, Atapattu provided Sri Lanka the stability they desperately needed.

5. Mentor and coach

Post-retirement, he contributed as:

  • Sri Lanka batting coach
  • Sri Lanka head coach (2014–15)
  • Mentor to Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Mathews and many more

6. Highly respected cricket mind

Known for discipline, clarity of thought, and technical insights.

Below please watch Attapattu's classy 185 at Lords test - strokeplay of artistic brilliance 


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