Wisden overview
A vulnerable starter, this sparsely-haired Samson can show immense strength of character once he gets his eye in, as England discovered when he held them up for more than 11 hours at Galle in February 2001. On a lifeless pitch, Sri Lanka's vice-captain is a master of the percentage game, his caution a useful counterpoint to the risks taken by Sanath Jayasuriya, his opening partner. All his big Test innings have been slow affairs but the most tortuous episode of his international career was its start: it took him nearly seven years to get established. For a player who is a natural grafter, Atapattu has adjusted remarkably well to the shorter version of the game: his 124 against South Africa in the 2003 World Cup was one of the finest in the tournament for its elegance and the sheer purity of strokeplay. Widely tipped to take over the reins when Jayasuriya stepped down, the selectors sprung a surprise by naming Atapattu the captain of only the one-day side. Simon Wilde

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