Another Raw Deal For Upul Tharanga
By Ryan Francis (islandcricket.lk/blogs/ryan)
Upul Tharanga yet again faces the axe inexplicably.
After 325 ODIs Mahela Jayawardene has 12 ODI centuries. In comparison, Upul Tharanga who has played just 105 ODIs has eight centuries and a higher batting average than Jayawardene. Despite having the stats to challenge any batsman in the current Sri Lankan line up, Tharanga always finds himself sidelined inexplicably.
All it takes is one failure from Tharanga to see his place in the side questioned while some seniors continue to fail when the side needs them most, but hold their place in the side thanks to the occasional performance.
In Sri Lanka’s last match – Match five of the Micromax Tri Series in Sri Lanka – Mahela Jayawardene was promoted up the order to open batting pushing Tharanga – an opening batsman throughout his career – down the order to accommodate Jayawardene’s needs.
“Over the last year and a half Mahela has shown a liking to open. If his mindset is more free to go up the order, then guys like me and other players must back that decision, we’ve got to move down the order and take responsibility,” Sangakkara told reporters defending the decision to send his best mate Jayawardene up the order.
It is a cruel blow to Tharanga who sat out for months to make way for Sanath Jayasuriya. The poor lad must be wondering when these ageing seniors will take a back seat and give him a fair chance to play for Sri Lanka.
One can understand why Mahela would want to open. Who wouldn’t want to cash in on the power plays? And with an IPL auction coming up, Jayawardene doesn’t have a whole lot of opportunities left to remind IPL franchises that he has what it takes to succeed in the limited over formats.
So, the two pals – Sangakkara and Jayawardene – at the expense of the next generation, have decided that number two and three in the batting line up is best for them.
How good is it really for Sri Lanka? Should we not be questioning the logic? If Tharanga is going to be pushed down the order, should we not just drop him and find a specialist middle order batsman? It’s all about the right combinations, right?
In the last 12 months Tharanga has played 23 matches with an average of 41.85 and has scored two centuries and six fifties. During the same period Jayawardene averaged 39.11 with one century and six fifties. Nothing about those stats suggests that something is broken and needs fixing. So it is only natural that we should be questioning the motives of the skipper and the new vice captain.
Let’s also not forget that when Muralitharan retired, Sangakkara chose to hand the position of vice captain to Mahela who had earlier stepped down from captaincy.
Only Sangakkara can explain what’s going on; it all makes sense to him.
This article first appeared on Island Cricket on August 23 2010. It is republished here with permission from the source.
The point is Upul Tharanga never rise to the occation when Dilshan get out. Also he can never handle the swinging ball and get out cheaply and the responsibility falls on the middle order.
Yes Mahela may have got lesser average but that is cos’ he never get to bat during the power play. Thranga should have a much better average as he gets power plays but a meserable failure.
So let the veteran selectors like Aravinda make the decesion. If we have to accomodate all the player as per the preferences of journalists, then the best thing is to ‘draw lots’ instead of having a selection commitee.
We cant afford to have passengers, only star class , average is a no,no,the time upul complets a100 the match is alredy lost ,not good enough for A team, time to play baseball or somthing,,
Before republishing Island Cricket Sports Editors column, better find out if he is hired by somebody to demoralise the Sri Lanka team before the World Cup.
This Sunday leader not only devided the whole nation by publishing various ridiculous political articals on MR , SF, GOta Rw, but also trying to crate issues on Cricket as well. Sad ..!!!
Asking somechallenging questions should not demoralise any and contrary to that should help to find the best outcome. Culturally we always shy away from askinfg challenging questions and getting offended. We need to get out of this self defeating face saving exercise if we want to compete at the elite level. That’s what Arjuna did.
aSKING CHALLENGING QUESTIONS IS ONE THING, RAKING UP MUCK THROUGH SARCASM & BEING NEGATIVE IS ANOTHER MATTER.
DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SEE THE POSITIVES OF A NEGATIVE ISSUE /
Good article. The SL fans are becoming like the Indian fans idol worship and cannot stomach any criticism of their players. Sanga is a terrible captain – who threw Dilshan “under the bus” a couple of times this week. He puts on a fake accent while addressing the western media etc. Arjuna was the last great captain who stood behind his players and met other teams, umpires and boards in a confrontational manner. The scandal surrounding Randiv was embrassing and Kumara’s performance was spineless and cowardly. You may want check youtube to see who called for the noball. You know, in the west the fans continously critique the national selection process that is how we ensure that the best players play for our country. Do not do the same thing that you did to your country to your cricket team.
Please do not get me wrong. I personaly belive that this talented youngster should have got more opportunities over santh during the last few years. That must have impacted on his confidence and cause him to fail in big games. Statistics alone do not tell the whole story.
I was trying to show another aspect of the debet and we have the tendency to either resort to insults or interpret any comments we do not like as insults.
tharanga must given the chance to open the innings….we cant expect the experience like mahela from tharanga as he played 1/3 mathches of mahela’s total matches…short thing is now inside our cricket team also POLITICS happening…coz mahela is the best mate of sanga he is getting the chances and batting order even he is not performing… which is not good for the world cup expectation..
While accepting Mahela’s capability I maintain that Upul should either open or come one down. Dilshan can occupy his usual place but should be severely disciplined. Like our politicians run to the Kovila this guy has a habit of running to night clubs and creating ugly scenes. There are records of misbehaviours in Kolkotta, Zimbabwe and London. The managers are to be blamed for taking the leash off Dilshan. He has no control of himself and absolutely does not care for any self respect. Before hit the front page of foreign media Sri Lanka Cricket got to put a full stop for this unruly guy. We warn the management before he creates an ugly scene and tarnish our country’s name. His weaknesses are drink and women.
To begin with my comments, I would like to say that Upul is not getting enough opportunuties to perform his best. Very rarely he is getting opportunities and performed well. But you cannot compare him with Mahela. But upul should be given an chance to open the innings with Dilshan. His duty is cement his place in side by giving 100 percent to the team. Also he has improove his fielding by working hard. Where I am concern left and right hand combination is best to open an innings for any side. Wherther it is one day, T20 or test cricket. Do not blame him for his failure in one or two matches. He is a stylish batsman and he’ll be an asset to us during the world cup.
Its quite normal that Mahela’s average is lower because he had played 300plus matches. Both are good players. The black spot in the team is Dilshan. He probably would spoil Srilankan cricket image. If he doesnt change his patterns soeone should teach him. He looks like a hippy than a cricketer.
Talking Rubi sh this writer. We Know Upul is good player But Hoe he can compere with Mahela. Mahela’s & Snaga”S ODI Records are not great as they are Test records becasue when start of they are carreas our Openers was SANATH & MARWAN we Know thay were giving good starts and one of tam will score runs most of the matches. And Mahela and sanaga has to come in situations where need to score 30-40 runs quickly and thay hve to take Chances while Batting.
All great players like to come to the crease early to build score in ODI’s
( Sachin is suceesfull in ODI after he start opening)
More over Upuls centuries Have come in situations where he has ride on Luk with miss chances and the help of Sanath & Dilshan aggressively attacking the bowlers he dosnt hav to score quickly. he has to show more character scoring match winning innings rather than riding on others Back if he need to hang to his place.