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By Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team's tour of England in 1992 was a significant one in many aspects. The team was rich in talent and had a galaxy of players with true potential.

A decade later, two of its key players - captain Marvan Atapattu and opener Russel Arnold, have turned out to be vital cogs of the national team. Another young prospect who directly emerged from school level is left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas.

The trio have played a significant role in the Sri Lanka national team over the years.

Atapattu, the present vice captain to Sanath Jayasuriya in the national team, is a slow starter. But once he finds the rhythm and gets going, the Kalutara-born stylish opening batsman is unstoppable.

His big double centuries are classic examples of how Atapattu has become a headache to his opposing bowlers once he settles down.

Atapattu, a product of Ananda, had a disastrous start to his international career in 1990/91 when he had a pair of 'ducks' in his debut Test - against India in Chandigrah.

He batted at No. 7 and No. 6 in respective innings of 0 and 0. He continued the lean run in the next two Tests and failed to justify his elevation to the highest level. But the selectors were aware of the tremendous potential in Atapattu and gave him enough chances to settle down.

The way he improve and cemented his place in the national team should serve as an example to budding cricketers.

After Sidat Wettimuny, Atapattu is probably the only technically correct batsman Sri Lanka has ever had in Tests. He has often played a key role in Sri Lanka team's big match-winning totals.

He has formed a good opening combination with his captain Jayasuriya in both forms of the game. In his debut one day international, Atapattu made 8 n.o. against India in Nagpur in December, 1990.

In 164 one day internationals for Sri Lanka, Atapattu has aggregated 5,382 runs at an average of 37.90 with six centuries and 41 fifties.

His strike rate of 66.74 may not be that impressive, but what his team expects from this dependable top order batsman is to play a sheet anchor role and hold one end up. He has done just this to the perfection.

Thirty two-year-old Atapattu has so far played in 59 Tests, scoring 3,495 runs at an average of 38.40 with ten centuries and eleven fifties.

Chaminda Vaas 200 wickets in both versions of the game

Sri Lankateam's long felt need of a left-arm paceman was filled by Chaminda Vaas since his debut in 1993/94. Vaas made a name for him self as a 15-year-old schoolboy at St.Joseph's. He showed tremendous form with bat and ball as a schoolboy cricketer.

Since joining the national team, Vaas has emerged the most successful Test paceman ever produced by Sri Lanka, bettering the feats of Asantha de Mel.

Vaas is the only Sri Lankan paceman to complete 200 wickets in Tests and only the second Lankan ever to complete 200 wickets each in both Tests and one day internationals after Muttiah Muralitharan.

Last year has been one of Vaas' best, trying out significant variations in his attack which puzzled top class batsmen.

He has so far captured 240 wickets in 194 one day internationals with 27.57 apiece and 200 wickets in 62 Tests with 30.28 apiece. Unfortunately, lack of an equally top new ball partner has reduced greater feats by Vaas.

Russel Arnold adds muscle to the middle order

Peterite Russel Arnold had to fight for long to cement his place in the national team. That is not due to his fault or due to a question of his talent, but because of seasoned players who were there in the national team when Arnold made his debut for Sri Lanka in 1996/97.

A devout Christian, Arnold kept faith in his talent and finally earned a permanent place in the national team. He adds more weight and reliability to the Lankan middle order batting.

Arnold had played in 93 one day internationals for Sri Lanka, scoring 2,334 runs at an average of 38.90 with one century and 16 fifties.

So far, Arnold has played in 41 Tests, in which he has aggregated 1,798 runs at an average of 30.47 with three hundreds and ten half centuries.

Arnold has shown his rock solid determination often when Sri Lanka had been in trouble.

He is a fighter and would not give up easily. His fighting qualities with the willow, have been a blessing for the national team.   [Back]

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