Sri Lankan Test vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne in talks with Mulgrave-Endeavour Hills

International Lahiru Thirimanne could be joining the playing ranks of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association next season.

Lahiru Thirimanne bats during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and Australia at The Oval.

Sri Lankan Test vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne could be heading to Victorian Sub-District cricket.

New Endeavour Hills president Arun Rajendran told his members tonight that there was a posssibilty the left-hander would play for Mulgrave-Endeavour Hills, to be made up of players from both clubs.

Rejendarn said the Eagles were “pumped’’ at the prospect of recruiting Thirimanne, who is based in Melbourne.

And he confirmed Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne had also been sounded out as a possible player.

The Mulgrave-Endeavour Hills player-sharing model – approved by Subbies officials this week – is being described as a “trial run’’ ahead of a possible merger.

Mulgrave, affiliated with the Eastern Cricket Association, has had local cricket buzzing about its recruiting in the off-season.

Dimuth Karunaratne takes a catch off the bowling of Rangana Herath.

It has signed former Sri Lankan champions Tillakaratne Dilshan (as captain) and Sanath Jayasuriya (coach), as well as Upul Tharanga as a player.

Dilshan and Tharanga will line up for the Mulgrave First XI in the Eastern Cricket Association.

Now officials are keen to secure at least one international for the Mulgrave-Endeavour Hills Sub-District team.

The VSDCA has had a big influx of star players in the off-season, including former Victorian batsman Aaron Ayre and his Essendon teammate Matt Doric and 10,000-run Premier Cricket batsman Simon Hill.

But Thirimanne would become one of the most decorated to cricketers to appear in the 112-year-old competition.

The 32-year-old has made 42 Test appearances for Sri Lanka, scoring 2063 runs at 27.50, with three centuries.

He has played Tests against South Africa, England, the West Indies and Bangladesh this year, hitting centuries against England and Bangladesh.

Karunaratne, 32, has played 72 matches for Sri Lanka, scoring 5176 runs at an average of 38.62, with 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries.

He has captained his country since 2019.

In nine Test matches this year Karunaratne has cracked three centuries, including a career-high 244 against Bangladesh.

But Karunaratne and Thirimanne would be five-pointers in Sub-District cricket.

The team limit is 19 and both would be able to play only with an exemption from the VSDCA.

Rajendran said Thirimanne was the most likely of the pair to join the Eagles since he was living in the south-east.

Mulgrave president Malin Pullenayegam confirmed today that the club had been in talks with Karunaratne and Thirimanne but nothing had been finalised.

He said it would be exciting if the Mulgrave-Endeavour Hills combined team could recruit a high-profile player and create interest in Sub-District cricket.

Pullenayegam said he expected “four or five’’ Mulgrave players to line up for the Mulgrave-Endeavour Hills team.

He said the player-sharing arrangement represented the “infancy’’ of a possible merger between the clubs.

“We’ve got to see what the season pans out to be and how we do work through it before we make any commitments,’’ he said.

“It is a mutual agreement with Endeavour to ensure that happens. Obviously we need to look at the feasibility of it and our relationship growth during this upcoming season.

“If everything goes well, we’ll start considering it. But we are two big clubs. There is lots of backgrounds stuff that needs to be put in place before it happens. So really, it’s a trial run.’’

Pullenayegam said Mulgrave wanted to “build both brands’’ and ensure they were successful.

“Success talks on its own … if we can prove this joint venture is successful on and off the park, the results showing on paper, that’s when people will take notice.’’

Rejendarn said the promotion and development of juniors would spin off from the recruitment of well-known players.

In another positive for Endeavour Hills, the Victorian Blind Cricket Association is keen to having training and matches at Pargeter Reserve.