Drumpellier Cricket Club have signed Sri Lankan Gumge Sudesh Umayanga Fernando as their professional for this season.

Sudesh Fernando (27) is a former first-class all-rounder who was a consistent performer on Sri Lanka’s domestic circuit for neigh on a decade. Playing for Panadura Sports Club, Fernando churned out 3,925 runs at 27.26 and took 48 wickets at 29.48 over 110 matches across the three formats between his debut in 2005/06 and 2013/14.

He scored 5 centuries – four in first-class cricket with an average of 26.76, including a highest score of 155, then averaged 31.75 and 24 with bat and ball respectively in List-A cricket.

Over the past two seasons though, Fernando has played his cricket in Melbourne, Australia and has been one of the stand-out performers in the Box Hill Reporter District Cricket Association. To date, he has 1,606 runs at 48.67 and 56 wickets at 18.88 with best’s of 144 and 5-45.

Fernando has also excelled during a 6-year UK league cricket stint for Nottinghamshire ECB Premier League club Mansfield Hosiery Mills. Between 2008 and 2013, Fernando played 189 matches scoring 6,223 runs at 42.91 including 7 centuries alongside 202 wickets at 23.93 (3,802 at 39.6 and 122 wickets at 28.15 in 1st XI league cricket only).
He regularly finished inside the 10 top run-scorers in the league – second being his highest position in 2008 with 788 runs at 49.25. He is currently ranked as the 16th leading run-scorer in the history of the Notts Premier League. Factor in 122 wickets with his left-arm spin and you can understand why Mansfield Hosiery Mills retained the Sri Lankan all-rounder for the 6-year period.

Having not played in the UK over the past season, Fernando is eager to return to Northern shores in 2015 and clearly, with his proven record home and abroad, represents an outstanding acquisition for Drumpellier