International cricket superstar Tillakaratne Dilshan announced as marquee signing for 2022 Southern Smash

Former Sri Lanka captain and aggressive short-form batter Tillakaratne Dilshan will be the marquee player in the fourth edition of Albany’s Twenty20 tournament, the Southern Smash. Regional WA’s premier T20 competition will return in December and cricket royalty Dilshan is set to make waves after being announced as the Smash’s key signature. The decorated world-class all rounder amassed 10,290 runs and 16 Test centuries in a glittering career across all formats. The 45-year-old achieved an impressive average of 39.27 across his ODI career and a 40.98-run average in his Test career, and is widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most accomplished players of his generation Dilshan will be the biggest name to play at the Smash alongside Australian spin champion and World Cup winner Brad Hogg. The Smash is an exciting T20 event in which players from metropolitan, regional and country areas get to rub shoulders with former State and international stars each December. Dilshan said he was excited to touch down in Albany to be part of the rapidly growing Smash. “I’m playing in Victoria currently, and have just returned from the Legends World Cup in Dubai,” he said. “I’m excited to see a new part of Australia and be involved in what I’m told is an outstanding growing regional T20 event. “The prospect of playing with regional and grade cricketers is exciting, and I hope that I can impart some of my knowledge and experience on up-and-coming players. “I’m still very active and want to stay involved in cricket as long as I can. “I’m still super-competitive, and hopefully when I get selected for my franchise in the upcoming draft, I can bring them a trophy.” Dilshan is currently in Australia, where he plays for Endeavour Hills Cricket Club in Victoria. Smash organisers haven’t confirmed who Dilshan will line up for later this year, but he is expected to be joined by several other big names.