Former Sri Lanka captain and Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya will grace the 42nd Observer School Cricketers of the Year Mega Show as the chief guest to be held at the BMICH, Colombo 7 on April 20 commencing at 5.30 p.m.
The glittering array of eye catching trophies on display that the winners of the Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketer of the Year Mega Show will be yearning and waiting impatiently to carry away for all the sweat and toil they shed to win awards during the inter-school cricket season will be the main focus.
The trophies will remain with the winners for prosperity. It is not all cricketers who have the good fortune to win these rare awards. So the joy and happiness that the winners will enjoy grabbing these trophies and kissing them with smiles written on their faces will know no bounds.
The Mega Show which was postponed on a couple of occasions due to the Covid-19 pandemic will finally be a reality and the health authorities have given a firm guarantee so that we could host the event in keeping with strict guidelines.
With less than two weeks to go for the glittering show, we went down memory lane to recall what the past winners had to say:
ICC Chief Match Referee and former Sri Lanka captain RANJAN MADUGALLE, the first ever winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979:
“I could well remember the day I received the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in the inaugural show, hosted by the Sunday Observer. The award is a lasting memory and I will treasure that moment forever.
“Cricket is a noble game. It moulds one’s character and makes it a way of life to the individual concerned. The great game of cricket is governed by laws. Although the laws have changed from time to time to suit modern demands, one has to play the game within the laws because no one is greater than the game and its laws of cricket.
“While playing the game within the laws, the players must respect their opponents. All are human beings and we must learn to take victory and defeat in the same spirit. In cricket what I have learnt all these years is to treat the opposite side players not as opponents, but as friends. There are many things that one has got to learn from the game. Team strategy and leadership will ultimately bring success and rejoicing and a disciplined mind and body”
Sri Lanka s World Cup winning captain ARJUNA RANATUNGA, who won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice in 1980 and 1982:
“It’s a tremendous boost for a schoolboy when he is adjudged the Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Allrounder or the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. He could then aim at club level and international level. You may go places and win many other Awards at higher levels, but an Award won at the ‘Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year’ event remains the most memorable in any cricketer’s life.
Winning the Award twice remains the most cherished moment in my life. The titles had given me tremendous inspiration and confidence when I stepped into the international arena.
“It is sad to see the deteriorating standards of school cricket. Unfortunately, officials do not pay much attention to school cricket. The cricket authorities have forgotten the fact that the foundation of the national pool is school cricket.
They must keep in mind that school cricket is the cradle of the national team.
“The government must also focus on sports and particularly on cricket which has brought glory to our country internationally”.
Former Sri Lanka captain and ex-ICC Match Referee ROSHAN MAHANAMA, who won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice in 1983 and 1984:
“These award ceremonies motivated us as emerging cricketers.
It is always a great motivation when you know that your achievements are being recognized. To emerge as the best schoolboy cricketer and be honoured for the hard work at the end of the season was a great encouragement. I was privileged to receive this award as it was one of my dreams. “It was a memorable occasion and a stepping stone to club level and to international cricket thereafter. Being crowned the best Schoolboy Cricketer made me even more determined to work harder to reach greater heights and get the taste of international cricket”.
Former Sri Lanka cricketer and ex-Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha, winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1985:
“When Roshan (Mahanama) won this award twice in 1983 and 1984, I truly understood how prestigious it is to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award. It was a rare honour and a rich award that not every schoolboy cricketer had the fortune to win. One has to be outstanding and be consistent right throughout a season to win that – work really hard to reach the pinnacle of school cricket.
“I was eager to win that title after watching the proud moment when Mahanama won the award which was also an honour for his alma mater Nalanda. I knew hard work and dedication with exceptional performance could take a schoolboy cricketer towards that goal. I successfully achieved my dream as a schoolboy the following year.
“Winning the title gave me tremendous confidence and I started believing in myself more. In less than five months after that I made my Test debut for Sri Lanka. I am glad that the Sunday Observer is hosting the awards show uninterrupted, thus encouraging the budding schoolboy cricketers. During our time, this was the only school cricket awards show and we were eagerly looking forward to it”.
Former Sri Lanka captain and ex-Chairman of Selectors SANATH JAYASURIYA, who won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer Outstation title in 1988:
“It is a fine gesture on the part of Lake House and the Sunday Observer to host the show uninterrupted so that the young boys across the country will have something to look forward to when they end their school career.
“The Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year would take outstanding young players closer to the Sri Lanka ‘cap’. When I won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year outstation title, I thought I should stand a greater chance of playing for Sri Lanka, if I continue to focus on the game with dedication and devotion.
“It inspired me to go places. Once you win this coveted title, all you need is commitment and dedication to find a place in the Sri Lanka team”..
Former Sri Lanka captain and ex-Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu, winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1990:
“I consider winning the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer title was a turning point in my career that transformed me from school cricket to international cricket. At the time I had been performing well and scoring consistently for Ananda as a schoolboy cricketer and many considered me as a future Sri Lanka prospect. Although I too had felt that way that I had a chance, there was no guarantee.
“But my crowning glory as the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 1990 gave me an assurance that I would play for Sri Lanka. In the past, all those players who had won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title before me had gone on to play for Sri Lanka with distinction. Hence, when I won the title, I too knew that I could join that select band, provided I work hard.
“I was always considered to be a prospect to play for Sri Lanka, and a source of encouragement that gave me tremendous inspiration was winning the schoolboy cricketer title.
Hence, I worked harder, dedicated myself to achieve that goal. I finally made it to the Sri Lanka team shortly after winning the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title”.
ICC Elite Panel Umpire and former Sri Lanka cricketer KUMARA DHARMASENA, the winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1989:
“The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title I won in 1989 inspired him to excel in the international arena. It was one of the greatest moments in my cricket career. It was a big inspiration for me to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title. It helped and encouraged me to work hard to win my Sri Lanka cap.
“The Mega Show title gives a huge image and great confidence for a schoolboy cricketer to go places. That would definitely make young schoolboy cricketers more determined to reach the top of the ladder.
“Compared to our era, I feel that outstanding cricketers with exceptional performances and milestones are hard to find nowadays. That could be the reason that had prevented schoolboy cricketers marching directly to the Sri Lanka team in recent times, unlike our playing days”.
Former Sri Lanka cricketer and world record holder for most number of Test wickets MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN who won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1991:
“Our school cricketers are the future Sri Lanka players. You must keep the Sri Lanka flag flying wherever you go. Play hard and dedicate yourself, then success is bound to come. As young cricketers, you must keep in mind that only 11 could play in a team. When you get that rare chance of playing, you must put your heart and soul and give hundred percent to the team, so that success will come your way.
“We must pay a tribute to the Sunday Observer for its role in rewarding the outstanding schoolboy cricketers since 1979. Don’t be disappointed if you fail once or twice in the early stages of your career. Keep absolutely cool even when the going is not the way you want. I learnt this from my captain
Arjuna Ranatunga who sported a cool head even when the going was not good. He used to take the pressure off the players when the going is not to his liking”.
Former Sri Lanka cricketer and ex-Sri Lanka batting coach THILAN SAMARAWEERA, winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice in 1994 and 1995:
“It was unique to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer title twice. It is not easy. I’m also happy about my Test average. Among the Sri Lankan batsmen I am third behind two of our greatest batsmen.
“I must pay a glowing tribute to former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who had won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer twice in 1980 and 1982 before us.
He used to be such a great example in my first years at SSC. I mean, here was this guy who was a huge personality in international cricket. Even for a club game, he gets there early. He plays the game with an intensity you wouldn’t believe. In the SSC team, only two players avoided getting an earful from him as captain at that time – me and Marvan Atapattu”.
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel continues to provide that ‘smart connection’ to the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest for the 14th successive year.
Thanks to the longstanding association of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), headed by Shammi Silva, the Observer-Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year contest has gone from strength to strength.
