Kirkburton is delighted to announce the return of their Sri Lankan star, Roscoe Thattil, for their 2021 Drakes Huddersfield League campaign.
In all cricket for Kirkburton in 2019, Thattil scored 1,183runs at 49.29 and took 21 wickets at 32.33 for good measure. He was set to return this summer before COVID struck.
Domestic run machine
Thattil is an accomplished first-class batting all-rounder playing for Negombo Cricket Club in Tier A of Sri Lanka’s Premier Tournament.
He has played 49 first-class matches and scored 2,6,98 runs at 35.97 and taken 28 wickets at 30.32, not to mention the small matter of 19 wickets at 17.10 (SR: 15.20) in domestic T20 cricket.
He moved to Negombo last summer (2019/20), 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) and 5 wickets at 19.80 (2018/19) in recent seasons.
Roscoe with ball in hand ready to work his magic. (c) The Papare.
An overseas stalwart
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), 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. The all-rounder then returned for a second stint in England where he excelled playing for Kirkburton in the Drakes Huddersfield League in 2019 (1,183runs at 49.29 and 21 wickets at 32.33).
Roscoe returns
Thattil is not only a quality cricketer but an intelligent bloke, who comes highly recommended by numerous sources, including Sri Lankan domestic legend Dinuka Hettiarachchi. Given his success for Kirkburton in 2019, it’s unsurprising that they re-signed Thattil for 2020. Unfortunately, COVID struck, so the club has deferred the agreement through to the 2021 season.
