Stenhousemuir sign Sri Lanka Test opener Malinda Warnapura

Stenhousemuir have pulled off a signing coup by announcing that Sri Lankan Test player Malinda Warnapura is to be the club professional for the 2011 cricket season.

The 31-year-old opening batsman has played in 14 tests and three one-day matches for Sri Lanka and will arrive at The Tryst in time for the start of the inaugural SNCL Championship campaign in April.

As well as his obvious on-field abilities, Warnapura is a highly-qualified coach and Stenhousemuir officials hope that he will help bring on the club's promising crop of youngsters.

Stenhousemuir's Duncan Walker said: "We are delighted to bring him to the club. The important thing for us after a difficult season in 2010 (they finished ninth in the First Division] is that he is a very good coach who can make the talented young players improve and believe in their abilities more.

"We are effectively rebuilding the side ahead of 2011 and to have Malinda in the top order will allow others to have more confidence in their batting which will hopefully see them go on and build big scores.

"It is important to secure a good professional/coach well in advance of the season and this is a big part of our winter plans."

Warnapura last played a Test match in July last year against Pakistan and in his 14 Tests he notched up seven 50s and two centuries.

His highest score was 120 against the West Indies in March 2008, while he hit 242 playing for the Sri Lanka A side against Bangladesh A in 2007.

Despite batting left-handed, Warnapura is a useful right-arm off-break bowler and has taken more than 100 first-class wickets.

His uncle, Bandula Warnapura, was captain of the first Sri Lanka cricket side to play an official Test match, against England in February 1982.