Interview: Chamari Athapaththu’s impact on Sri Lankan cricket goes far beyond statistics

In 2023, at the age of 34, Chamari Athapaththu had her best year as an international cricketer yet. Her numbers alone are astonishing: in ODIs, she had an average of 69.16 and a strike rate of 126 – only Australia’s Meg Lanning in 2012 has matched both those figures in calendar year – while in T20Is, where she takes up an all-rounder role, she struck at 131 and averaged 31.33, all while maintaining an economy rate of 5.67. In July, she became the first Sri Lanka batter to achieve top spot in the ICC’s Women’s ODI rankings.

She has been lauded by the ICC, winning their Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year Award and named captain of their Women’s T20I and ODI sides of 2023. It had been a long time coming.

“I’m proud of my performance because I worked hard in the last 12 months,” she tells Wisden. “I had a dream to win this award [ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year] when I started and I’m so happy.”

But it was what those statistics brought that underline the true value of Athapaththu’s efforts. Victory over eventual runners-up South Africa in the league stage of the T20 World Cup was a warning shot that something special was brewing, and while they missed out on the semi-finals due to a net run rate, they had given the hosts a scare.

Then, last summer, came the big ones: In July, Sri Lanka, who had never beaten New Zealand in an ODI before, triumphed twice over the White Ferns to seal a series win. Athapaththu blitzed 243 runs off 163 balls without being dismissed in the two victories. Then came a T20I series victory over England away from home, Athapaththu leading the series runs and wicket charts and named Player of the Match in both Sri Lankan wins.

If she had to pick a favourite, it would be the clincher against the White Ferns: “I love the 140 against New Zealand in the third ODI in 60 balls [the point at which the hundred came up]. That game was very crucial for us because it changed history – we beat New Zealand for the first time.” Athapaththu also hit nine sixes in the innings, the most by any batter in a women’s ODI. The records keep coming.

***

Athapaththu has long been Sri Lanka’s most important player, but technical tweaks have taken her to a new level. She credits national coach Rumesh Ratnayake for helping her develop a fourth-stump guard with a higher backlift and angled stance to access the leg-side, increasing her range of stroke play.

She also looked to revive her bowling. In 2023, Athapaththu sent down 35.4 overs in 12 T20Is, the most she has bowled in a calendar year. She bowled three or more overs five times and finished her quota on three occasions. She even bowled with the new ball in the second T20I against England, dismissing Danni Wyatt in the first over and setting her side on the path to a series-levelling victory.

She is frank about what motivated her improvements. “I had a point to prove and show what I could do because I didn’t get picked in any franchise league in 2022. That’s why I worked doubly hard.”

It is rare for a seasoned cricketer like Athapaththu to be so open about her disappointments but this is her way, a social media post last year making clear how much she was hurting after repeated snubs from T20 leagues. Having gone unsold in the first edition of the Women’s Premier League, Athapaththu was also ignored for The Hundred and the Women’s Big Bash League.

Really feel for her ☹️ pic.twitter.com/xucd3eDT5r

— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) September 4, 2023

Why she was constantly overlooked is baffling, and she conveyed her dejection with three broken hearts on social media, earning support and solidarity from her fellow cricketers. “I was very disappointed, to be honest, but I did not ask anyone for the reasons for my omission,” she recalls. “As a cricketer, I do not want to ask why I haven’t been picked. These decisions are taken by franchises and I cannot control these things. What I can control is doing my best for my country and enjoying my game, which is what I try to do every time.”

Her hard work was finally awarded when she was picked as a replacement overseas player by Sydney Thunder, made possible as the franchise had extra room in their salary cap last year. Given a chance when Marizanne Kapp fell unwell ahead of the Sydney derby, she seized the opportunity, scoring 52 and picking up three wickets to keep her place for the rest of the competition. By the end of the tournament, she had scored 511 runs, the second-highest in the run charts, at a strike rate of 130 and an average of 42.58, and also grabbed nine wickets at an economy of 6.79.

Athapaththu duly won the Player of the Tournament award. The hard work has paid off. “I always do the best for my country but I had to do more if I wanted to show the world what I am capable of,” she says. “That’s why I changed my batting approach, changed my skill set and focused on improving my fitness.”

***

Despite her successes, Athapaththu has still had to toil for recognition. She was once again overlooked in the player’s auctions for this year’s WPL but was selected as a last-minute replacement for Lauren Bell, and will now turn out for the UP Warriorz.

The desire to be seen and acknowledged does not only have to do with herself. Athapaththu realises that she is an idol to several young girls in Sri Lanka and the onus of inspiring them to take up cricket is largely on her shoulders. “If I want to get more girls into cricket, I have to show them that they can compete against the best overseas players.

“Doing well abroad gets people interested and gives more media visibility. Fans watch our games more and it helps in getting more sponsors and advertisements. The attitude of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has changed massively since my debut. Now the officials think, the girls are doing well, so we need to help them, which was not the case earlier.

“If we perform better, the SLC will increase our payment, because everything depends on performance. If we win, sponsors will also come and then there will be good media support, all of which will help Sri Lanka cricket massively. SLC have many things to do and if we can perform well and get sponsors in, it will be easier to develop women’s cricket.”

Last year, the SLC trebled the match fees for their women’s cricketers. Sri Lankan players now get US $750 per white-ball game in addition to a winning bonus, up from the US $250 they earlier received. While it is still minuscule compared to what those in other countries earn, it shows what success can do. Success at the international level has also brought about almost instant wholesale changes in the domestic structure with the SLC looking into the advantages of investing at the grassroots.

Last year’s Federation of International Cricketer’s Associations report revealed how the Sri Lankan team is not “backed by any underpinning domestic structure of substance, meaning developing a depth of talent and progression up the rankings remains a significant challenge.”

A year on, there has been growth in that regard, and Athapaththu gives an update. “There are attempts to restructure our domestic circuit. Last year, the SLC hosted a 15-team Women’s Major Club 50-over tournament and we have started school cricket as well. Currently, there is an under-19 school tournament, so the steps are in place to make a good domestic structure. A total of 60 women players are contracted – SLC has given out 25 national contracts, 20 to the A team and 15 to under-19 players.

“We also need to start an under-15 and under-17 school tournament. I have another proposal to SLC – to start two-day and three-day cricket because Test cricket improves the skills among players. All this has been made possible because of the performance of the girls. The board also respects me and listens to my opinions. I have also requested that the matches be played on good wickets.”

The pain after her omission from the WBBL last year, at face value, suggested a legend disappointed at not being able to show off her skills across the world. In reality, she knew what a good showing could do for cricket back home.

A decade and a half into her cricket journey, Athapaththu is witnessing the rewards of her hard work: enhanced financial security, increased opportunities for young talent, and improved infrastructure – challenges she openly acknowledges grappling with during her rise. Legends don’t just accumulate personal achievements; they earn their status by dismantling barriers, ensuring a world improved for those who follow. Beyond statistics, this is what makes Athapaththu a real star.