Selectors should pick Atapattu Over Tharanga

[jude_aus]

A player who has played 268 matches should be on the ground plaing, not on the bench.

I have been watching all the Sri Lankan matches so far and it’s clear that Tharanga is not comfortable against big teams at all. His strike rate is very slow compare to other openers in the world. Being a slow opener, put lot of pressure on his team-mates.

Why not play Maven Atapattu as an opener with Jayasuriya instead of Tharanga. Atapattu has the experience and he is a better player than Tharanga. In the field, they are not much deferent from each other (Both slow in the field and don’t ball).

May be selectors should give Atapattu a go against Ireland and prepare him for the semis. We will have a better chance of wining the world cup with the following line up.

Marvan Atapattu
Sanath Jayasuriya
Kumar Sangakkara
Mahela Jayawardene
Chamara Silva
Thillakaratne Dilshan
Rassel Arnold
Chaminda Vass
Lasith Malinga
Dilhara Fernando
Muttiah Muralitharan

[simmy]

The same selectors that rested Murali and Vaas? I would rather not second guess their actions.

[Perm]

No.

[pup11]

How fair is it on Attapatu to make him cool his heels for 2 months and then all of a sudden ask him to come into the side and start performing and that too in the semi-final stages of a WC.



One game against Ireland won't be good enough match-practice for Attapatu IMO, leading into a big game such as a semi-final.

[simmy]

Tharanga is a class player IMO and will eventually come good

[Richard]

Atapattu is far more of a class player than Tharanga is ever likely to be.

Stupidass that he is likely to never get a chance at what should have been his swansong.

Still, he's a three, not an opener, in ODIs.

[_Ed_]

Been very impressed with what I've seen of Tharanga so far.

Atapattu's been a great player for Sri Lanka and is unlucky to miss out, but it would be a bad move to dump Tharanga to make room for him IMO.

[Richard]

TBH, Tharanga's young enough to have ages ahead of him. Atapattu's last chance is now.

Tharanga, to date, has done nothing against teams other than England and New Zealand.

[steds]

No.

[Ash_A55]

Why not pick Atapattu? His experience may come in handy in the later stages of the tournament. Tharanga hasn't made that many runs anyway.

[PhoenixFire]

I've never thought of Atapattu as a ODI player tbh, Tharanga is gun though.

[simmy]

Originally Posted by PhoenixFire

I've never thought of Atapattu as a ODI player tbh, Tharanga is gun though.

Exactly how I see it... I am surprised this thread came into existence.

[Richard]

Tell me - what is so trigger-worthy about this?

Tharanga averages 13 against Australia, 18.11 against India, 26.66 against Pakistan, 13 against South Africa and 9.75 against West Indies.

He's a player of promise, beyond question, but to date he's been very much a weak-attack and substandard-side bully.

As for Atapattu not being a ODI player - he's done pretty well to play 245 ODIs, then...

[StumpMic]

Wow so many of you don't know about Atapattu's odi status. He's one of the most successful odi openers ever produced by SL. Him and Jayasuriya were great at the top of the order. I think they have a 50+ average together.

Maybe the selectors should give him a shot in the match against IReland if only to bring some pressure on Tharanga to perform However I think he just hasn't had enough time in the middle to open for SL in the major matches. Tharanga is also a faster scorer than Atapattu and, as a younger player, he has a longer future ahead of him.

[deeps]

bring attapattu in against Ireland, if he can get going, it should be enough practice..ie. if he's in the middle and makes 30+

if he gets out cheaply then he wouldn't have had enough practice and back to tharanga.