South Barwon recruit Kisara De Alwis shows promise as a Premier level umpire
A Sri Lankan migrant and academic has come from a minimal background in cricket, to be a promising Premier level umpire and one of the region’s better female players.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Sri Lankan migrant and academic has come from a minimal background in cricket to be a promising Premier level umpire and one of the region’s better women’s players in just five years.
Growing up in Colombo, cricket wasn’t really on the radar for Kisara De Alwis – she preferred the long jump and 200 and 400m and benefited from private coaching – although her father had played to a decent standard and was a former captain at Wesley College in the 1960s.
After graduating at Colombo’s Methodist College, she would finish her Bachelor of construction management in Sheffield in the UK.
However, it wasn’t until she moved to Geelong 10 years ago, to complete her Masters at Deakin University, that her journey in the game began to unfold.
Through a connection with former Highton, Guild St Mary’s and Waurn Ponds cricketer Khasim Khan Pathan, she would join the Heat in 2019-20 for the women’s competition.
While she struggled to get a hit early on, an unbeaten 32 against East Belmont in January that summer got her hooked.
“As a newcomer it was so new to me,” De Alwis said.
“You can’t say I played many games (in my younger years), I played like a few games per year for social events, it was not a big thing in those days.
“It was just a fun thing.
“I was watching cricket, my father had played different levels ... I don’t think he ever had any idea of me becoming a cricketer.”
However, five seasons later, De Alwis had become the Heat’s leading batter with 173 runs at 14.42, its A Grade captain, a 23-24 team of the year member and a Geelong representative.
But with Highton going down a division after a one-win season in 24-25, De Alwis was recently unveiled as one of South Barwon’s biggest recruits, alongside dual Ray Menzies medallist Clay Mulgrew, former Two Blue Tom Meredith and the returning Kyle Bienefelt.
De Alwis said it was “nothing personal” against the Heat, who had sharpened her game, she simply wanted to play at the highest level possible.
“If I’m joining a club, I’m looking at the long term, not a short term thing,” she said.
“I thought that would be a good option for me to take my cricket for the coming season.
“I’ll always support Highton as that’s where I started my career as a cricketer, I’m always grateful for the opportunities that they gave, but just because they are dropping down ... (I got the) idea of moving clubs.”
Making the switch more seamless, De Alwis had built a relationship with Swans captain Rebecca Linke after playing representative cricket together.
Meanwhile, De Alwis has shown some promise as a Premier Cricket umpire, going on to officiate in a third grade decider and a second grade semi-final last summer.
She also umpired in the Cricket Without Borders v Afghanistan Women’s XI in January with Louise Broadfoot in Melbourne.
She credits Brett Pearson for her development, who made some important connections before the 2024-25 season.
“I never thought I’d get an opportunity to join Premier umpiring,” she said.
“I can’t say it’s a dream come true because I never had the dream of becoming an umpire.
“I always trust in God.
“You never know what his plans are, I never thought I would come to Australia.
“But somehow I came to Australia, it’s just changed my life.
“It’s a long journey but I was so blessed they gave me continuous feedback (as an umpire).
“It’s not a dream come true but it’s like a dream.”
She recommended any would-be umpires to foster a love for the game, put themselves in the shoes of the officials when watching cricket on the TV and be across the changing rules and regulations.
The former Deakin lecturer is now a unit co-ordinator and senior academic lecturer at the Australian Industrial Systems Institute and playing for Monash University in a winter competition.
And while friends from native Sri Lanka visit every few months, De Alwis could not imagine living anywhere else: “I think I’m more comfortable staying here.”
More Coverage
Originally published as South Barwon recruit Kisara De Alwis shows promise as a Premier level umpire
Workers in firing line, clients unaffected by genU changes
A large-scale Geelong-based disability support service confirms it is making changes to a core component of its operations but insists clients will not be affected.
‘Limited or absent’: Hockey Geelong set for major overhaul
Geelong hockey’s peak body will consider several options to safeguard its future – one involving proposed “player levies” – amid concerns the region is losing its best to Melbourne clubs.