Cricinfo - Players and Officials

Full name Warushavithana Upul Tharanga
Born February 2, 1985, Balapitiya
Current age 23 years 304 days
Major teams Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Ruhuna, Singha Sports Club, Sri Lanka Board XI
Batting style Left-hand bat
Fielding position Occasional wicketkeeper

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

713

165

28.52

1440

49.51

ODIs

2133

120

30.91

3018

70.67

253

T20Is

114

14.25

116.32

First-class

105

3148

169

30.86

List A

113

107

3291

173*

31.64

4642

70.89

Twenty20

227

68*

20.63

165

137.57

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

ODIs

T20Is

First-class

1.33

List A

113

Twenty20

Career statistics

Test debut

India v Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, Dec 18-22, 2005 scorecard

Last Test

Sri Lanka v England at Galle, Dec 18-22, 2007 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

Sri Lanka v West Indies at Dambulla, Aug 2, 2005 scorecard

Last ODI

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Nov 30, 2008 scorecard

ODI statistics

T20I debut

England v Sri Lanka at Southampton, Jun 15, 2006 scorecard

Last T20I

Australia v Sri Lanka at Cape Town, Sep 20, 2007 scorecard

T20I statistics

First-class debut

2000/01

Last First-class

Zimbabwe Select XI v Sri Lankans at Bulawayo, Nov 12-15, 2008 scorecard

List A debut

2003/04

Last List A

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Nov 30, 2008 scorecard

Twenty20 debut

England v Sri Lanka at Southampton, Jun 15, 2006 scorecard

Last Twenty20

Ruhuna v Wayamba at Kurunegala, May 1, 2008 scorecard

Upul Tharanga's call-up to the national one-day squad in July 2005 brightened a year marred by the Asian tsunami, which washed away his family home in Ambalangoda, a fishing town on the west coast. 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 seamlessly and successfully through the Sri Lanka under-15, under-17 and under-19 development squads. He first really caught the eye during the under-19 World Cup in 2004 when he cracked 117 against South Africa and then 61 in 42 balls against India in the next game. Then, after a successful tour with the under-19 team to Pakistan, during which he scored half-centuries in each of the two Tests and two one-day matches, the Sri Lankan board sent him to play league cricket in Essex, where he starred for Loughton Cricket Club. He soon graduated to the A team and after accomplished performances against West Indies A earlier he was selected for the national squad a week later. However, it was on the 2006 tour of England that he really began to develop, especially in the one-day game, with an outstanding century at Lord's in the first match of Sri Lanka's 5-0 whitewash. Back-to-back centuries followed in the Champions Trophy and he was formed a destructive partnership with Sanath Jayasuriya without having to compromise his natural flair. He is also a skillful wicketkeeper.
Charlie Austin February 2007

Jul 18, 2008

Zaheer Khan dismissed Upul Tharanga for 6 © AFP

Jul 18, 2008

Zaheer Khan celebrates Upul Tharanga's wicket © AFP

Apr 12, 2008

Upul Tharanga clumps one through the covers © AFP

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