With so much cricket played these days it is often difficult to keep track of who is who and what they are doing. In this weekly feature Cricinfo will take a look at one player who is making the news, whether at the highest level or as an aspiring talent, and tell you what they are all about. This week, it's the turn of Upul Tharanga,
Sri Lanka's young opener.
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Tharanga on his way to a fifty at Lord's
© Getty Images
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With all the talk over Sanath Jayasuriya's 'will he, won't he' comeback
spare a thought for the current Sri Lankan openers. Never mind having to
face a powerful England new-ball attack, in seaming May conditions, they
also have the unknown factor of whether they'll be pushed aside by someone
who apparently retired a month ago.
Jehan Mubarak will not remember his Lord's debut with any fondness after
scores of 0 and 6 and for all the world Upul Tharanga appeared to be
heading the same direction. Following a first-innings 10, he was playing
and missing against Matthew Hoggard with England sensing blood. Then
something changed; within the space of three overs from Andrew Flintoff,
Tharanga threaded four boundaries through the covers and he was a player
transformed.
With the heroics of Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara
grabbing the headlines, Tharanga's innings has slipped into the
background, but his half-century laid the seeds of Sri Lanka's greatest
recovery. Strangely for a batsman from the subcontinent it was the spin of
Monty Panesar that eventually troubled him and brought about his downfall when
he played away from his body to one that didn't spin.
However, Tharanga has also overcome a challenge bigger than any bowling
attack can offer. When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck on Boxing Day 2005,
Tharanga's family home in Amabalangoda, a small fishing town on the west
coast, was crushed and all their belongings were dragged out to sea in the
backwash.
Fortunately, like so many budding first-class cricketers in Sri Lanka,
Tharanga had left the countryside to build a career in the city but all
his cricket equipment had been lost. Kumar Sangakkara, his long-time
friend and mentor, dipped into his own pocket to help him get new bats,
pads, gloves and helmets and his ODI debut in August 2005 was a major
milestone in his family's recovery.
From an early age he was tipped for the big time, playing Premier League
cricket for Singha CC at the age of 15 and passing successfully through
the Sri Lanka Under-15, U-17 and U-19 development squads. But that does
not always equate into a successful career at the top level; it takes
something extra to succeed. The initial signs are that Tharanga has that
quality.
Timeline
January 2002
Part of the Sri Lankan squad at the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand.
August 2005
ODI debut against West Indies at Dambulla.
December 2005
Test debut against India
at
Ahmedabad. Scores 2 and 47 as Sri Lanka lose
by 259 runs.
March 2006
Notches first Test century, 165 against Bangladesh
at
Bogra, where the next best score of the innings is 49.
Current form
Began the tour of England with a century against British Universities, but
struggled against the swinging ball as the opposition got stronger.
However, as he bedded in at Lord's the confidence returned and he reached his
third Test fifty in six matches.
Vital Stat
Both his highest Test score, 165, and highest ODI score, 105, are also
Tharanga's career bests in first-class and limited overs cricket.
What he says - when first selected for the full side
"I am completely devoted to this game and my ambition is to cement a place
in the Sri Lanka team."
What they say - Kumar Sangakkara
"He is an opening batsman with huge potential, a very stylish player who,
if he works properly on his game, can enjoy a length career. He has a
repertoire of strokes, great rhythm when he bats and is also blessed with
fine timing. In my mind, he has got everything he needs, and it's now up to
him to see whether he can streamline and work hard."
What you may not know
The Sri Lankan cricket board sent him to play league cricket in Essex, for
Loughton Cricket Club. He played a game for Essex 2nd XI and scored the
small matter of 158 against Middlesex 2nds at Southgate.
Andrew McGlashan is editorial assistant of Cricinfo