Uppermill Cricket Club is delighted to announce the signing of Kavindu Kulasekra as our professional for the 2023 season. Kavindu is an exceptional talent and will play alongside our 1st team, captained by Michael Bird, in the GMCL Division 1.
Kavindu is a right-handed top-order batsman and right-arm off-spinner, currently playing first-class cricket in Sri Lanka for Sinhalese Sports Club. He has been involved with the Sri Lankan national youth sides from Under 15 to Under 19 levels and was selected for the Sri Lankan Under 19 team's Asia Cup side in Dubai in 2013.
Since making his first-class debut in 2015, Kavindu has played 17 matches for Sinhalese Sports Club, boasting many former and current Internationals. He has an excellent average of nearly 40 with a best of 104* against Colombo in February 2016. Kavindu is a batsman who likes to build an innings with long periods at the crease but with excellent shot variation. He bowls regularly at first-class level with his off-spin with great control, flight and variety.
Kavindu had his maiden season in the UK playing for Cleator CC in the North Lancashire and Cumbria Premier league in 2017, where he took time to adapt but still had some excellent contributions throughout the season with bat and ball. He then joined Driffield Town CC in 2018, where he put together 789 runs @ 35.86 and took 29 wickets @ 27.00. Kavindu returned to the UK in 2019, playing for Easington CC, and had a difficult season for a player of his calibre. However, he bounced back in 2021 with 695 runs @ 34.75 and 44 wickets @ 20.89 with an incredible best of 8-34. He returned to Morley CC in 2022 and was outstanding with the bat, scoring 1088 runs @ 54.40 with a best of 165 (120) against Wrenthorpe. He also chipped in with 20 wickets.
Kavindu is a player with a big future in the game and comes highly recommended by former Sri Lankan great and teammate Thilan Kandambi. He is looking forward to returning to the UK once again for next summer to showcase his talent.
We are excited to have Kavindu Kulasekra join us at Uppermill Cricket Club and look forward to seeing him in action. With his talent and experience, we are confident he will make a valuable contribution to our team and help us achieve our goals in the upcoming season.