Kirkburton will see the return of their Sri Lankan star Roscoe Thattil for a third Huddersfield Cricket League stint in 2022.
Domestic star
Thattil is an accomplished first-class batting all-rounder playing for Negombo Cricket Club in Tier A of Sri Lanka’s Premier Tournament.
Thattil has played 49 first-class matches and scored 2,698 runs at 35.97 and taken 28 wickets at 30.32, not to mention the small matter of 26 wickets at 16.84 (SR: 14.10) in domestic T20 cricket.
He moved to Negombo prior to the 2019/20 season, following successful stints with Sri Lanka Air Force (2011/12-18/19), Burgher Recreation Club (2012/13), and Badureliya (2015/16).
His three seasons for SL Air prior to joining Negombo were particularly productive, hitting season tally’s of 399 runs at 44.33 (2016/17), 459 runs at 32.78 (2017/18), and 461 runs at 41.90 (2018/19).
Whilst bowling opportunities have been limited in red-ball cricket he has starred in T20 cricket, taking 8 wickets at 13 (2017/18), 5 wickets at 19.80 (2018/19), and 7 wickets at 16.14 (2020/21) in recent seasons.
A well-traveled cricketer…
The all-rounder made his first-class debut for SL Air Force back in 2011/12, before stints with Burgher Recreation Club (2012/13), Ragama Cricket Club (2014/15), and Bagureliya Sports Club (2015/16). Thattil has also enjoyed success abroad, with stints in England (2013, 2019, 2021), New Zealand (2013/14), and Australia (2014/15).
During his maiden overseas trip, Thattil struggled with the bat, but excelled with the ball, finishing third on the Southern Premier League (Division 1) wicket charts. The all-rounder then headed down under, playing a season in the Wellington Premier Competition for Johnsonville. This time, he produced the goods with the bat, scoring 429 runs at 39, albeit was used sparingly with the ball. In 2014/15, Thattil played over the ditch in Australia for Newcastle District Cricket Association club Charlestown District. He scored 450 runs at 22.50 and took 28 wickets at 19.25 in a solid season’s first grade.
Roscoe returns in 2022
Over the past 2 full UK seasons, he has been the stand-out professional in the Drakes Huddersfield League – winning the title as “Best Overseas” in 2021. Over his two seasons, he racked up 7 centuries amongst his 2,336 runs at 49.70 alongside 44 wickets at 24.82. It’s no wonder Kirkburton were quick to re-sign their Sri Lankan star for a third season in 2022.
