Upul Tharanga

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Upul Tharanga


country = Sri Lanka
fullname = Warushavithana Upul Tharanga
nickname =
living = true
dayofbirth = 2
monthofbirth = 2
yearofbirth = 1985
placeofbirth = Balapitiya
countryofbirth = Sri Lanka
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath =
yearofdeath =
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath =
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Left-handed
bowling = –
role =
family =

international = true
testdebutdate = 18 December
testdebutyear = 2005
testdebutagainst = India
testc

lasttestdate = 18 December
lasttestyear = 2007
lasttestagainst = England
odidebutdate = 2 August
odidebutyear = 2005
odidebutagainst = West Indies
odic

lastodidate = 12 April
lastodiyear = 2008
lastodiagainst = West Indies
odishirt =

club1 = Nondescripts Cricket Club
year1 = 2003–08
clubnumber1 =
club2 = Ruhuna
year2 = 2007–08
clubnumber2 =
club3 = Singha Sports Club
year3 = 2000–01
clubnumber3 =
club4 =
year4 =
clubnumber4 =

deliveries =
columns = 4
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 15
runs1 = 713
bat avg1 = 28.52
100s/50s1 = 1/3
top score1 = 165
deliveries1 = –
wickets1 = –
bowl avg1 = –
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = –
catches/stumpings1 = 11/–
column2 = ODIs
matches2 = 69
runs2 = 2,055
bat avg2 = 31.61
100s/50s2 = 6/9
top score2 = 120
deliveries2 = –
wickets2 = –
bowl avg2 = –
fivefor2 = –
tenfor2 = –
best bowling2 = –
catches/stumpings2 = 11/–
column3 = FC
matches3 = 60
runs3 = 3,060
bat avg3 = 30.29
100s/50s3 = 5/15
top score3 = 169
deliveries3 = 18
wickets3 = 0
bowl avg3 = –
fivefor3 = 0
tenfor3 = 0
best bowling3 = 0/4
catches/stumpings3 = 53/1
column4 = LA
matches4 = 107
runs4 = 3,142
bat avg4 = 31.73
100s/50s4 = 7/16
top score4 = 173*
deliveries4 = –
wickets4 = –
bowl avg4 = –
fivefor4 = –
tenfor4 = –
best bowling4 = –
catches/stumpings4 = 23/1

date = 11 October
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/11/11183/11183.html CricketArchive

Warushavithana Upul Tharanga (born 2 February, 1985 in Balapitiya, commonly known as Upul Tharanga) is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a left-handed opening batsman and wicketkeeper.

Tharanga's Sri Lankan call-up in July 2005 made for a mixed 2005, after his family home was washed away by the Asian tsunami. His equipment, which was also washed away, was replaced by Kumar Sangakkara.

Having played for Nondescripts since the age of 15, he played for Sri Lanka's under-15, under-17 and under-19 squads. He had a successful under-19 World Cup in 2004 with successful innings of 117 and 61 in successive games. He was sent by the Sri Lankan cricketing board to play league cricket for Loughton Cricket Club in Essex.

Tharanga graduated to the "A" team and in July was selected for the full squad.

On the 2006 tour of England he really began to develop, particularly in the one-day game, scoring over 300 runs in Sri Lanka's 5-0 whitewash of the hosts. In addition, Tharanga is also well-known for taking part in a record-breaking first wicket partnership with Sanath Jayasuriya in the final match of this series. He finished off with 109 off 102 balls, and played a pivotal role in completing the whitewash against England.

Tharanga lost his form in the 2007 World Cup scoring only one half century (against New Zealand) he then continued his poor run of form in the home series against England in 2007 where he failed to contribute and often fell before the 10th over often resulting in a middle-order collapse. Subsequently he lost his ODI place to Malinda Warnapura and his test place to Michael Vandort but he remains within the squad.

He has also come in for special praise from Jayasuriya, one of the greats of cricket, saying that he could be the next captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team.

One Day International Centuries

The following table illustrates a summary of ODI centuries scored by Upul Tharanga

*In the column Runs, * indicates being not out
*The column title Match refers to the Match Number of the player's career