Thilan Walallawita was only five when he and his family nearly died in the Boxing Day tsunami in Sri Lanka. Seventeen years later the slow left-armer is about to become qualified to play for England and is being talked up by some good judges. His Middlesex head coach, Stuart Law, talks of his “great skill” and control — attributes that England’s talent scouts are bound to be looking at after a winter in which the team struggled with bat and ball in spinning conditions in India. SponsoredBut Walallawita’s story goes far beyond wickets, runs and catches. He speaks with the matter-of-factness that comes when someone has told their story many times as he recalls the moment that his father’s quick-thinking saved the family.

Source: The Times March 25, 2021 17:03 UTC