Upul Tharanga justifiably recalled to World Cup squad
SRI LANKA SQUAD....: Upul Tharanga was excluded from the 15 man squad
for the cricket World Cup 2015 now in progress. After the final X1 was
named there were numerous views spoken and written by critics including
legendary Muttiah Muralitharan about the exclusion of Upul Tharanga and
Kusal Perera who are openers which all knowledgeable followers of
cricket would agree. The criteria for selection of the final 15 from the
30 member initial squad named should have been on proven previous
abilities and the present form in domestic circle.
If such a criteria was adhered to it is very difficult to understand
why the past experience and the form in domestic cricket of Upul
Tharanga in particular was not considered for an automatic selection. He
was just below 30 years of age then and has had experience having been a
vital member in the past two World Cups in 2007 and 2011, having opened
and performed quite admirably scoring prolifically particularly in the
last World Cup in 2011.
Upul Tharanga was one among the first five batsmen in batting
averages during the last World Cup. In this list, there were Dilshan and
Sangakkara as well. He has without any doubt had much more proven
ability than some of those selected by the selection panel of Sri Lanka
Cricket .It was a blessing in disguise for all cricket lovers when the
chief selector recalled him to the squad to replace the injured
all-rounder Jeevan Mendis last week.
It was indeed a prudent decision as Upul Tharanga had excelled in the
domestic circle scoring at will for his club Nondescript Cricket Club.
His inclusion was to deliver justice that needed to be meted out to him
even later, was perhaps in defence of the stupid blunder made by the
selectors in axing him for no fault of his but for reasons best known to
the members of the panel in the selection committee.
There are some facts since he made in ODI debut against the West
Indies in August 2005 at the Rangiri Dabullu International Cricket
Stadium in Dambulla not known to many. He had since played in 171 ODI's,
batted 168 times, averaging 33.57,strike rate 73.61, with 13 hundred's
and 28 fifty's. He had scored a century in his debut ODI match at Lords,
holds the world's record highest partnership of 286 runs for the first
wicket in the annals of the ODI history partnering Sanath Jayasuriya the
chief selector himself against England at Headingly, Leeds in the year
2006 which stands unbroken as at date for well over eight years.
Tharanga - second to Ponting
It is pertinent to mention that Upul Tharanga holds the all-time
second best record of 200 plus double century partnerships in ODI's only
next to legendary Ricky Ponting who has eight such partnerships batting
at Number 3. But his feat was achieved in his entire career spanning 375
ODI's more than twice that of Tharanga's career ODI's.
Out of these seven stands to renew past memories, as opener two were
destructive stands with the 'Master Blaster', the chief selector himself
while two others were also swashbuckling partnerships with the current
opener Tillekeratne Dilshan and the other three were with Mahela
Jayawardene, the latter two are however permanent members of the present
World Cup squad.
The opportunity was afforded by ICC for Sri Lanka team also to get
acclimatisation to weather conditions in New Zealand in playing 7 ODI's
prior to the commencement of the World Cup.
It was obvious that Upul Tharanga was given step motherly treatment
when selectors dropped him for the tour of New Zealand, the co host
country for the World Cup 2015, one who has already had experience
playing on New Zealand soil scoring a century and been involved in a 200
plus partnership with Sanath Jayasuriya in the year 2006 at Napier.
It was indeed pathetic as he was not considered for the England tour
of Sri Lanka as well as a batsman who had excelled in the domestic
circle and had proven abilities with unparallel excellent past records.
Upul Tharanga is a cricketer who was born to play cricket, having
played for the Sri Lanka under 15, under 17 and under 19 teams and for
Under 19 World Cup teams, having excelled as an opening batsman and as a
wicket keeper also.
As a youngster he had excelled in youth U 19 team World Cup in 2004
when he impressed and also scored a fine century against South Africa.
He had since played premier league cricket in Sri Lanka for Singha
Sports Club and to date for the Nondescripts Cricket Club. He played
league cricket in England for Houghton Cricket Club in Essex and had
excelled in domestic one day cricket for Sri Lanka to date.
With such an impressive record in ODI career and he had been a member
of the Sri Lankan squads in the two previous world Cups in 2007 and
2011and hence possessed proven skills and abilities.
In the quarter-final match against England in WC 2011, he scored an
unbeaten century and along with Dilshan helped Sri Lanka to crush
England by 10 wickets.
Sunil Thenabadu
17, Melrose Place, Eagleby, 4207, Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
e mail [email protected] Tel: 0061732873917
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