Middlesex Cricket can today announce that left-arm spinner Thilan Walallawita will leave the Club at the end of the season.
Sri Lanka born Walallawita, now 26, moved to England with his family as a youngster and began playing at Potters Bar Cricket Club, where he impressed, ahead of joining the Middlesex age group pathway, first representing the Club at Under 14s level.
He made his Second Eleven debut for Middlesex in July 2015 and went on to make over 120 appearances for the Club’s Second Eleven across all three domestic formats.
His breakthrough season came in the Covid summer of 2020 when he made his first-class debut for Middlesex in the Bob Willis Trophy, against Surrey at the Oval, and played in all five of the Club’s group matches in the competition.
Opportunities for Walallawita became limited after 2020, and he leaves Middlesex having made a total of 11 first-class appearances, in which he took 10 wickets with best bowling figures of 3 for 28, plus a further 24 appearances across both white-ball formats, taking 17 wickets for the Club.
On Walallawita leaving the Club, Middlesex Cricket’s Managing Director of Cricket, Alan Coleman, commented:
“It’s always disappointing when you have to let a player go who has come through your pathway, and this couldn’t be truer than in Thilan’s case.
“Making the decision to let Thilan go when his contract expires at the end of the season hasn’t been easy, as he is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever worked with and is a hugely popular character in the dressing room.
“Disappointingly for Thilan however, others in the group have progressed ahead of him, which has really limited the opportunities available to him in first eleven cricket.
“All of us at Middlesex would pass on our most sincere thanks to Thilan for all he has achieved for the Club in the years that he’s been with us, and we wish him every success for the next chapter of his career.
“He will always be welcome back to Lord’s and will be missed by the many friends he has made here.”
On leaving Middlesex, Thilan Walallawita himself commented:
“I am very grateful to everybody associated with Middlesex Cricket for the opportunities they have given me. It has been an honour to represent the Club, and I wish the players, coaches and staff all the best for the future.
“I remain confident in my ability to thrive as a professional cricketer, and look forward to the next chapter.”
