@The90s @@@ <--- you are
@The90s @@@ <--- you are wrong here to assume the SL Coach is a pure saint among the pool of rotten culprits killing the sport with lethal bouts of misdoings. Upul Tharanga's career seems prematurely ended by the dirty Local Coach catering purely according to his personal vendettas & jealousies ... picking the 1st instance in 2+ years of Upul's 8 innings lapse without scoring a 50+ since his last match winning inning in BD this year, to slot in worst failure Kusal Mendis Mendis (career average in 20s even after 50+ ODIs) despite his past 24 inning series demolished lapse going at 12 AVERAGE since the last 50 score came in 2017 June. AXED THARANGA's innings in 2018 : 39*, 56 ,10 , 9 ,19, 36, 19 ,27 ,36 ,0 (he also made a 95 & 49 in India in Dec 2017). This lean patch of 8 ings is enough to cut the throat of a batter who was among the World's TOP 3 Odi batters in previous 12 months scoring 1k+ runs @ near 50 Av & 90+ SR for SL.! HOW IS THAT ??? 😛 Currently Do we have any batter even remotely closer to REPLACE THIS GUY THARANGA in performance wise in ODIs? His exposure was cut short to ONE match in last Odi series at a time his NEXT BIG SCORE of 50+ was Guaranteed to come soon as repeatedly proved in his past 24 month record, taking just 0 -7 ings between his 50+ scores including hundreds.! Probably it could have come in next 3 Odis Vs Eng if let UT to play, saving or winning the series as well.! But the dirty Coach parachuted Mendis from nowhere... even rejected by the selectors to the original squad, to continue his Duck act to assure the 3rd consecutive series loss for SL with the solitary t20 match loss as with Mendis' 3 hat trick Ducks in consecutive innings to doom Asia Cup & Eng seines. Only a total dummy, blind to the real happenings would endorse this ongoing criminal acts (that cannot justify on any solid factual basis) as clean. So don't naively expect that the most productive & fittest top order batter in SL today - UT (1,300+ runs @ 40 Av - 88 SR in past 2 yrs) - will be ever selected to any future squad at least until WC or as long as this off-headed Coach (20 av worst ODI opener ever produced by SL in 1990s) screws current SL limited over Cricket, according to his miserable past & bitter mindset.! Upul's career is abruptly ended by this coach. Don't compare Mathews scenario with this. Mathews was ultimately dropped due to his open conflict with this coach. Anyhow in reality, his extremely poor psychical fitness should have prevented him from selections before the Asia Cup debacle. But already he is back in the test squad & will be selected again in odis as well as usual with the city-centered influence he has, despite lacking the fitness required to play. The problem here is Stick to the current form policy shouldn't be DOUBLE STANDARD, BIASED Axing, especially for the best performed guy over past 22 months since 2017 with wide experience playing all over the world & impressive credentials to prove his worth in global tournaments.! Such highly unethical axing shouldn't be based on JUST 8 INNINGS since his last 50+ & MoM award for the most productive guy in the side (UT). He had scored 1,315 runs, maintaining a 40 AVERAGE - 87 SR with 2 x100+ & 7x 50+ winning 1 Mom award this year as well since Jan 2017 & the leading run maker of the side over past couple of years.! WHO WOULD DUMP SUCH A BATTER from a side at a time like this facing a WC in a few Months.??? NO MATTER HOW ANYONE (Coach/Skipper) TRY TO INTERPRET THIS...GIVING LAME EXCUSES, THIS IS A PURE ACT of MALICE at the cost of WC hopes & SL Cricket & THAT TRUTH REMAINS.! Especially to accommodate a long time failure like K MENDIS (54 ODIs & career Av in 20s).... who's LEAN PERIOD & So called STICK TO THE CURRENT FORM POLICY was allowed to extend over TWENTY FOUR 24 ODIs & 16 months since his last 50 to yield a dismal 271 runs including 6 Ducks for SL at astonishingly LOW 12.36 AVERAGE & 72 SR! Compare the stats since 2017 Jan to find the incomparably and vast difference between the maintained performances of these two players since Jan 2017, before talking about unbiased equal treatment to every player & preaching that no one is above the game.! - THARANGA: 38 ings - 1,315 runs @ 40 Av- 87 SR –2 x100+ /7 x 50+ (1 Mom award) - K MENDIS: 35 ings – 761 runs @ 22 Av -80 SR - 1 x 100 / 4 x 50+ (1 Mom award) So WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? Where on earth a such an experienced pro's place was compromised despite being the leading run machine in a hopelessly malfunctioning batting unit...? ...just to accommodate the worst failure of all & try out some other new guys within few months to the most important World Cup? Unless more interested in catering to their inner-mind malice thoughts... at the cost of loosing each series like this up to the WC by accommodating Kusal Mendis?? Unbelievable Logic! Even without considering the above fact & UT's mountain of overall career credentials as a batsman... GOING BY just the overall Stick to the current form policy... still * 8 innings Vs 24 innings * is a clear violation of any policy, (if any such policy in place at all..?)! The bottom line is; No Team would Remove their TOP Run Maker during past 2 yrs, beside his proven record in World Tournaments holding the 10th best ranking for big score making.. just because he couldn't make a 50+ in 8 innings! No matter how we look at it....WORLD'S APART OVERALL DISPARITY IN TREATMENT IS TOO OBVIOUS!

The problem here is Stick to
The problem here is Stick to the current form policy shouldn’t be DOUBLE STANDARD Axing, especially for the best performed guy over past 22 months since 2017 with wide experience playing all over the world & impressive credentials to prove his worth in global tournaments.!

Such highly unethical axing shouldn’t be based on JUST 8 INNINGS since his last 50+ & MoM award for the most productive guy in the side (UT).

He had scored 1,315 runs, maintaining a 40 AVERAGE – 87 SR with 2 x100+ & 7x 50+ winning 1 Mom award this year as well since Jan 2017 & the leading run maker of the side over past couple of years.! WHO WOULD DUMP SUCH A BATTER from a side at a time like this facing a WC in a few Months.??? NO MATTER HOW ANYONE (Coach/Skipper) TRY TO INTERPRET THIS…GIVING LAME EXCUSES, THIS IS A PURE ACT of MALICE at the cost of WC hopes & SL Cricket & THAT TRUTH REMAINS.!

Especially to accommodate a long time failure like K MENDIS (54 ODIs & career Av in 20s)…. who’s LEAN PERIOD & So called STICK TO THE CURRENT FORM POLICY was allowed to extend over TWENTY FOUR 24 ODIs & 16 months since his last 50 to yield a dismal 271 runs including 6 Ducks for SL at astonishingly LOW 12.36 AVERAGE & 72 SR!

Compare the stats since 2017 Jan to find the incomparably vast difference between performances of these two players since Jan 2017:

– THARANGA: 38 ings – 1,315 runs @ 40 Av- 87 SR –2 x100+ /7 x 50+
(1 Mom award)

– K MENDIS: 35 ings – 761 runs @ 22 Av -80 SR – 1 x 100 / 4 x 50+
(1 Mom award)

So WHERE IS THE JUSTICE? Where on earth a such an experienced pro’s place was compromised despite being the leading run machine in a hopelessly malfunctioning batting unit…?

…just to accommodate the worst failure of all & try out some other new guys within few months to the most important World Cup? Unless more interested in catering to their inner-mind malice thoughts… at the cost of loosing each series like this up to the WC by accommodating Kusal Mendis?? Unbelievable Logic!

Even without considering the above fact & UT’s mountain of overall career credentials as a batsman… GOING BY just the overall Stick to the current form policy… still * 8 innings Vs 24 innings * is a clear violation of any policy, (if any such policy in place at all..?)!

The bottom line is; No Team would Remove their TOP Run Maker during past 2 yrs, beside his proven record in World Tournaments holding the 10th best ranking for big score making.. just because he couldn’t make a 50+ in 8 innings!

No matter how we look at it….WORLD’S APART OVERALL DISPARITY IN TREATMENT IS TOO OBVIOUS!

The above unique achievements
The above unique achievements were never HIGHLIGHTED in SL. If they were achieved by someone else belongs to the privileged elite group of City boys, the would have been GLORIFIED for ever.!

CRICFANUS @ —- X YOU ARE
CRICFANUS @ —- X YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG !

HERE ARE SOME OF UPUL’s WORLD RANKINGS.!

FYI,

1) Upul Tharanga (186 ings – 6,062 runs as Opener from 8037 balls faced) is RANKED at No-9 spot in HIGHEST RUN MAKERS among World odi OPENERS, who had played less than 225 innings and faced under 10,000 balls.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?batting_positionmax1=2;batting_positionmin1=1;batting_positionval1=batting_position;class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=runs;qualmax2=10000;qualmax3=225;qualval2=balls_faced;qualval3=innings;template=results;type=batting

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2) With Tharanga’s 15 CENTURIES from 186 Innings as Opener, He is RANKED at N0-6 in Highest Century Makers among World Odi Openers who had played less than 225 innings and faced under 10,000 balls.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?batting_positionmax1=2;batting_positionmin1=1;batting_positionval1=batting_position;class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=hundreds;qualmax2=10000;qualmax3=225;qualval2=balls_faced;qualval3=innings;template=results;type=batting

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3) UPUL THARANGA is sharing the WORLD RECORD (with Ricky Ponting) for building the HIGHEST NUMBER OF DOUBLE HUNDRED STANDS (SEVEN)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/tri-nation-west-indies-2013/content/story/647137.html

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4) Top 5 Highest Opening Partnerships In ODI

Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock:

David Warner and Travis Head

Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul Haq

Upul is the ONLY ODI batter in the world involved in TWO Highest partnerships among top Five Opening Partnerships.!

https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/sportzwiki+english-epaper-sptwiken/top+5+highest+opening+partnerships+in+odi-newsid-92779218

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5) One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Carrying bat through a completed innings – Tharanga is among the 11 batters in the World Odi Cricket to Achieve that (Only SL batter). He did that last year single handedly trying to halt a whitewash Vs Pak, but ran out of partners in ever crumbling batting unit before making the last few runs to win that match!

On 16 October 2017, Tharanga became the first batsman for Sri Lanka, and the first captain in the world overall, to carry his bat in an ODI

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283150.html

WHAT MORE DO YOU EXPECT FROM AN OPENER…???

@ Stormy-
Once in a blue
@ Stormy-

Once in a blue moon solitary inning of Kusal Mendis won’t make him a good potential. The way he batted in most of his innings and how he got out against most formidable attacks including spin didn’t fit the highly overrated technical ability at all (like in Thrimannes’s case).

Facing a WC inside a few months, this kind of highly illogical decisions may even get the closer attention of ICC anti-corruption unit relentlessly monitoring SL cricket at present.!

When there is a sword hanging
When there is a sword hanging over your head all the time despite your achievements & seniority, NO BATTER can produce their best. The only time Tharanga (even as a senior pro) was relieved from that pressure was in 2017 with continuous opportunity & the secure feeling he had as Skipper,even he hits a brief lean patch.

But none other past or present senior player was never put under such pressure in late stage of their careers (ie: Mathews was failing over 3 yrs in Test cricket, but his Test place is always secure & never dropped if fit, despite his pathetic Test Averages 2016 -28Av/ 2017- 29Av /2018- 26 Av)..!!!

Without that immense pressure, no need to say how productive Upul became, producing his career best productive year in decade long career, putting up over 1,000 runs @ near 50 Av and 94 SR – 2 tons & 7 x 50+ scores (including a 95).

As a result, he became one of the only 3 players in world to top 1k runs in 2017! But look at the blog article, just 2nd duck from 38 innings in 22 months & eight inning lean patch lapse of a 50 is enough to kick him out, despite having maintained 40 av – 88 SR in past 22 months!

Imagine how does he feel when some failure like Kusal Mendis was preferred over him, after having all those seniority, credentials & hard work to acheive those runs for SL even in recent times?

AFTER ALL, UPUL IS A HUMAN BEING AND IT IS INEVITABLE WHATEVER MOMENTUM OR RHYTHM HE HAD BUILT WILL MELT… WHEN YOU SEE YOUR COACH & SKIPPER OBVIOUSLY WAITING TO FIND A SLIGHTEST BLEMISH IN FORM TO KICK YOU OUT ALL THE TIME!~ Age wise Tharanga (33) has at least 3 years left in him as a batter (all SL batters retired at 37 or 38) & the most fittest player among batters today. (Mathews 32 &in about year or 2 mostt of the other guys will be in 30s).

@ Stormy –
It seems
@ Stormy –
It seems Coach/Skipper combo had just imposed an abrupt end to the career of a man who scored the most runs for SL among batters batted at top 5 since Aug 2016 – UT 44 odis – 1399 runs at 40 Average – 84 SR with 2-100 & 8-50.!

As the stats prove, he did his best trying to win matches even single handedly, but with absolutely no support coming from the rest of the batters, except in 2018 triangular in BD & last 2 winning odis Vs SA (putting the 50+ 1st wkt stand in each match PP1 to top 300), he was stranded as a lone-ranger at the end in many occasions!

How can you deny that fact? It is easy to pick a scapegoat that you don’t like to relive your frustration, but that wouldn’t help SL or change the absolute truth proved with solid evidence, isn’t it?

No Tharanga , No Mathews it will take at least another decade or more to salvage SL cricket cutting off the only two spring Oasis in a dessert with a severe dearth of Runs, if that is ever possible 🙁

@Revelation:
When there is a
@Revelation:

When there is a sword hanging over your head all the time despite your achievements & seniority, NO BATTER can produce their best. The only time Tharanga (even as a senior pro) was relieved from that pressure was in 2017 with continuous opportunity & the secure feeling he had as Skipper,even he hits a brief lean patch.

But none other past or present senior player was never put under such pressure in late stage of their careers (ie: Mathews was failing over 3 yrs in Test cricket, but his Test place is always secure & never dropped if fit, despite his pathetic Test Averages 2016 -28Av/ 2017- 29Av /2018- 26 Av)..!!!

Without that immense pressure, no need to say how productive Upul became, producing his career best productive year in decade long career, putting up over 1,000 runs @ near 50 Av and 94 SR – 2 tons & 7 x 50+ scores (including a 95).

As a result, he became one of the only 3 players in world to top 1k runs in 2017! But look at the blog article, just 2nd duck from 38 innings in 22 months & eight inning lean patch lapse of a 50 is enough to kick him out, despite having maintained 40 av – 88 SR in past 22 months!

Imagine how does he feel when some failure like Kusal Mendis was preferred over him, after having all those seniority, credentials & hard work to acheive those runs for SL even in recent times?

AFTER ALL, UPUL IS A HUMAN BEING AND IT IS INEVITABLE WHATEVER MOMENTUM OR RHYTHM HE HAD BUILT WILL MELT… WHEN YOU SEE YOUR COACH & SKIPPER OBVIOUSLY WAITING TO FIND A SLIGHTEST BLEMISH IN FORM TO KICK YOU OUT ALL THE TIME!~ Age wise Tharanga (33) has at least 3 years left in him as a batter (all SL batters retired at 37 or 38) & the most fittest player among batters today. (Mathews 32 &in about year or 2 mostt of the other guys will be in 30s).

@ MGKJulius – some fools
@ MGKJulius – some fools assume and call me as an alias of you, just because I view your effort as a genuine fight for the right. I agree, why should we fear to write against bite, when it is so obvious to everyone with a brain to think.

Tharanga is not a Bradman or another Sanga, but he is well above average Batter compared to useless current bunch including Chandimal, mostly find undeserved/non-earned regular spots despite their constantly pathetic delivery. They only know how to sink match after match in limited over cricket.

For example, look at Kusal Mendis, How come he was preferred by Coach & skipper, over Tharanga in recent ODI; Mendis scored his last 50+ score in 2017 June (16 months ago). He had been given <<<< THIRTY TWO (32)>>>> ODI Innings without a single 50+ score?

56 dot balls = 7 overs in 21
56 dot balls = 7 overs in 21 over game…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chandimal had 42 balls for his 34 runs today! While Kusal Mendis (not even selected to the original squad was parachuted again to make his 3rd consecutive Duck (by Hathurusinghe/ Chandimal)after derailing Asia Cup upfront with 2 more similar Ducks in previous 2 innings.

Kusal Mendis’ AVERAGE is 14 from 13 matches in 2018 & 22 Av from 35 matches since 2017.! He was selected over Upul Tharanga Average 40 from 38 Odis at 88 SR since 2017.! CAN YOU JUSTIFY THIS MADNESS ??

Axed Tharanga in 2018 : 39*, 56 ,10 , 9 ,19, 36, 19 ,27 ,36 ,0 (he also made a 95 & 49 in India in Dec 2017)!

K Mendis in 2018 : 0, 19, 36, 28, 3, 0, 31, 14, 38, 0, 0, 0

6 single digit scored including 5 FIVE DUCKS, this the current form and his form during past 22 months is no different.! This this is how the double standard AXE WORKS!