da betcris： New-look India take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Indian Oil Cup in Dambulla

da spicy bet： Charlie Austin29-Jul-2005

Upul Tharanga: something to smile about at last © Getty Images
Sri Lanka last played a one-day international seven months ago on December26, a day blackened in tragedy on an apocalyptic scale by the surgingtsunami waves that destroyed communities all around the Indian Ocean. It istherefore fitting that a young man that suffered more than most on thatterrible day, Upul Tharanga, is poised to mark Sri Lanka’s return with aninternational debut.Tharanga’s probable selection as Sanath Jayasuriya’s new opening partner hasbrightened an emotional tsunami-wrecked year. It won’t, unfortunately,repair the crushed walls of his family home in Amabalangoda, a small fishingtown on the west coast, and it won’t bring back all the belongings andmemories that were dragged out to sea in the debris-laden backwash. But itwill bring a smile to all his loved ones and celebration in his recoveringhometown.Fortunately, Tharanga and his family cheated death. Like Dick Whittingtonand so many budding first-class cricketers in Sri Lanka, he had left thecountryside to build a career in the city. He’d joined Nondescripts CricketClub and lived in a small room next to the club’s gymnasium. On Boxing Dayhe was safe from the waves that reduced his home to a salty pile of debris.His family escaped too and now live with kind relatives.His father’s fishing business was severely affected and it may take manyyears for financial security to return. Tharanga’s pockets were so emptyafter the tragedy that his mentor and friend, Kumar Sangakkara, dippeddeeply into his own wallet to give him the tools to rebuild his life: anEnglish willow bat, canvas pads, gloves, a helmet and more besides. Sincethen he has used those tools with dazzling success and is now poised on thebrink of every Sri Lankan schoolboy’s dream.Sri Lanka have been searching hard for a reliable opening partner forJayasuriya in recent years. During the past 17 months no less than five havegiven it a shot. But the main two contenders, Avishka Gunawardene and SamanJayantha, shared the bulk of the opportunities and failed to stake strongclaims. Both fired with an unacceptable inconsistency for a team thataspires to sitting at the top of the ICC’s ODI rankings and the search movedon. As Tom Moody told reporters: “The opening slot as been a revolving doorand time has now come to shut the door.”Moody has not seen a great deal of Tharanga, a wispy left-hander blessedwith natural timing, but he has seen enough to be impressed: “To me he is ayoung exciting player who is a natural striker and someone who times theball well. He suits the opening position in one-day cricket because he is anatural shot-player as does not need to go searching for the ball and he isalso athletic in the field.”Tharanga’s name first caught the eye during the Under 19 World Cup last yearwhen he cracked 117 against South Africa and then 61 in 42 balls againstIndia in the next game. Then, after a successful tour with the Under 19 teamto Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s cricket board sent him to play league cricket inEssex, where he starred for Loughton Cricket Club. He soon graduated to theA team and after accomplished performances against West Indies A earlier inthe month he was selected for the national squad last week.”I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to play if given thechance,” Tharanga said modestly when asked about his call-up. “I amcompletely devoted to this game and my ambition is to cement a place in theSri Lanka team.” Sri Lankan fans hope he is able to as well because a newtop-class opener is essential to the side’s long-term health. Just asimportantly, after such a harrowing year, he deserves a good break.