Thilan Walallawita

As a child, Thilan Walallawita escaped the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which decimated large parts of his home country of Sri Lanka and claimed over 30,000 lives.

He moved to England at the age of 12 and, after developing his game at Potters Bar Cricket Club, Walallawita entered the Middlesex Academy via their age-group set-up. He earned his first professional contract in 2020 after finishing the 2019 season as the leading wicket taker in the Second Eleven Championship, and completed his registration as a British citizen ahead of the 2022 season.