3 middle-order batsmen who became successful openers in Test cricket

Marvan Atapattu

Marvan Atapattu’s Test career is a prime example of things taking time to flourish at the highest level. Having made his Test debut against India in 1990, Atapattu scored a mere one run in his first three Test matches. It was only in 1997 that the right-hand batsman reached double figures for the first time in his fourth Test.

1997 was also the year when Atapattu opened the innings for the first time in Test matches. As a result, 1997 was also the year which put forward a different version of Atapattu in front of the world.

Atapattu played 79 Tests as an opener till his retirement in 2007 scoring 5,317 runs at an average of 43.22 and a strike rate of 44.62 including 16 centuries and 17 half-centuries.

In the other seven Tests (where he didn’t open the innings), Atapattu scored 95 runs at an average of 9.5 including five ducks in 11 innings. The difference in both the numbers speak highly of how well Atapattu adjusted from being a middle-order batsman to an opening batsman.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav

Australia India Justin Langer Marvan Atapattu Rohit Sharma Sri Lanka Virender Sehwag

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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