Marvan Atapattu

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Marvan Atapattu (born 22 November 1970 in Kalutara) is a Sri Lankan cricketer and the current captain. He is a technically correct batsman, although he can occasionally show an initial tendency to chop an inswinging delivery back onto his stumps. His first six innings yielded five ducks and a single. Supporters insist that his debut-innings duck puts him in good company with batsmen such as Michael Atherton, Graham Gooch, Len Hutton, Saeed Anwar and Wasim Akram, all who made debut-innings ducks and went on to score at least 2500 Test runs. Against New Zealend, he managed 25, 22, 0, 25 14, 4, 7 and 10, before hitting 108 and 98 against India. As a result, he has 22 Test-match career ducks and 4 pairs (two ducks in the one match), both records for a top-order batsman. Once settled, however, he is difficult to get out and as a result has scored six double centuries, including a highest score of 249. Only three batsmen have made more double centuries: Wally Hammond with seven, Brian Lara with eight and Don Bradman with twelve. His game has improved steadily and his Test average is now around 40. His one-day international average is about 37. He is a decent fielder with an accurate throw.