New signing: DCC secure Malinda

The Club are delighted to announce the signing of Sri-Lankan all-rounder Malinda Thotiwilage. Malinda will play for the 1XI this season as well as leading senior outdoor training sessions.

He has a wealth of cricketing experience and averaged an impressive 41.11 last season with the bat which included two hundred’s and three fifties. He also took 15 wickets with an average of just over 3.5 with the ball making him a useful addition to the squad in both facets of the game.
 
We caught up with Malinda to find out a bit more about him and his hopes for his time at the club.
 
Malinda, welcome to DCC - tell us a bit about yourself.
“I was born and bred in Colombo, Sri Lanka before I moved to south London permanently in 2007 where I have a young family. Outside of work and cricket I’m a keen amateur acrylic painter and love watching rugby when I have the time. I'm also a current playing member of the MCC.”
 
When did you first get involved in cricket?
“I have been playing since I was eight years old but really started playing to a good standard when I joined one of the elite schools, ‘Royal College’ in Colombo, where I was part of the Under 17 and Under 19 set-ups. 
 
“Since then I have had the opportunity to play among some Sri Lankan cricket legends such as Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga in the first-class set up in Sri Lanka. I played my last first-class game in 2007 prior to moving to the UK.”

Any overseas experience?
“My first experience was back in 2003/04 when I toured to Melbourne, Australia to play sub-district cricket as an overseas player. I also coached the 1XI of Caulfield Grammar school.
 
“In 2006/07 I had my first stint in the UK as a professional overseas playing for Gomersal CC in the Bradford League Premier where I scored over 900 runs. Since 2008 I have spent a lot of time playing in the Surrey Championship and then more recently in the Kent Cricket League with Old Wilsonians.”
 
How would you describe your game?
“I’m a right-hand top-order batsmen and also bowl right-arm off-break.”

How excited are you to join the club?
“I have seen the great facilities at the club and I can’t wait to work and play with some of the young talents I’ve heard about at the club. I want to help grow them into better players and hopefully this will have a positive impact on the whole club.”

You will also be leading our senior training sessions – what will be your main message to get across to the group?
“For me, communicating with players is key. It’s all about working ‘smart’ on their game both when you train and on matchdays. Cricket is all about confidence and the more you work hard on your game during training the more you can back yourself to reproduce those skills on a Saturday. 
 
But most importantly it’s about reminding players about how to enjoy the game - this is when you get the best out of them on and off the pitch.”
 
We look forward to welcoming Malinda to Hesketh Park and hope that all players will benefit from his knowledge.
 
Many thanks for your continued support.