Online edition of Sunday Observer

THE TOP THREE....Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 All-Island - Sahan Wijeratne of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa receives the top award from chief guest Ranjan Madugalle at the awards ceremony of the Observer-Bata show held on Friday night at the BMICH. In the centre N. C. Komasaru of St. Thomas' Matara - the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 receives award from Madugalle and (on right) Pathmanathan Lavendra of St. John's Jaffna - the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Northern Province receives award from Bata Managing Director Jorge Carbajal. (Pictures by Tilak Perera and Priyantha Hettige)

At Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards ceremony : Cricket a tough game, play it hard and play to win - Ranjan Madugalle

Cricket is a tough game and when playing the game, play it hard and play to win - this is the advice given to young cricketers by a young stalwart on the not too distant past - Ranjan Madugalle - a former Sri Lanka captain when he spoke to the large gathering as chief guest at the 24th Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards ceremony at the BMICH on Friday night.

Madugalle needs no introduction in the cricketing scene and what's more, he is the chief match referee of the ICC and that's a big achievement for Sri Lanka and when he speaks on cricket, he speaks with authority as he has now past all the tests - first as player, then captain and now as the chief match referee.

For the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show, this was a big happening, as Ranjan Madugalle was not just another chief guest, but by his deeds when as a schoolboy. He was the first Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979, but in the previous year too, he won the coveted award when the competition was sponsored by Warner-Hudnut Lanka Limited.

MOST POPULAR OF THEM ALL .... Anderio Toussaint of Wesley College (left) receives the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award All-Island from Mr. Nalin Ladduwahetty - Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (on right): Amila Withanaarachchi of Bandaranayake College, Gampaha the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2002 Outstation receives award from Mr. Nalin Ladduwahetty.

Madugalle gave some sound advice to all cricketers and their parents too. He said that all must learn to play the game hard according to the norms of the game and confine the rivalry of teams to the field of play and rivalry must be forgotten outside. He advised the cricketers to share in the joy of the game and be methodical in one's action and blend oneself with society.

He advised youngsters to confine cricket to the field of play. "If one thinks about cricket for 24 hours of the day, one may go off the head," he said.

He advised all parents to encourage the young offspring into sporting activities and also see that their sons or daughters will become useful citizens of Sri Lanka. In cricket, if one has a son playing the game, welcome him for whatever performance he puts and teach him what is right and correct him when he is wrong, the former Sri Lankan cricket captain advised.

Speaking about the show, Madugalle complimented Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and the Observer for keeping the show going for all these years and also paid a rich compliment to Bata Shoe Company of Ceylon Limited for the wonderful role they play in sponsoring. "The support of sponsors is essential and may the show continue for many years to come," he said.

Madugalle said that in the past most of the winners of the top awards came from Colombo and its immediate suburbs, but now the outstation schools have come in a big way and it was a good sign for the game. He was pleased to see Jaffna schoolboy cricketers too. In closing, he once again advised the young cricketers "You all are just on the stepping stone. Hard work will get you greater rewards. Parents should guide the way. This applies not only to cricket, but in everyday life too".

Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited Nalin Ladduwahetty said that he was much pleased about the growth of school cricket in the island. There are many outstation schools in the game now and that shows the game has got a firm footing in the island.

He said that the chief guest Ranjan Madugalle has shown the world at large that the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year is not anybody but someone special - this Madugalle has shown in no uncertain manner. Graduating from his schooldays at Royal, after captaining the school and then Sri Lanka, Madugalle's talent and knowledge had been spotted by the world cricketing body - the ICC who appointed him as the chief match referee. It was a proud moment for Sri Lanka when Madugalle was appointed the match referee for the World Cup final in England in 1999.

Managing Director of Bata Shoe Company Jorge Carbajal said that it was a happy occasion to have been associated with Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited for 24 years in keeping the show going to encourage the budding schoolboy cricketers.

He said that he was particularly happy to see that the Northern Province has joined up with the others in the competitions at this show. He said that he was mindful of the improvement of outstation cricket as the game has spread far and wide in the country. While thanking ANCL for the co-operation, he also thanked all the umpires from the four associations - Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association, Central Province Cricket Umpires Association, Southern Province Cricket Umpires Association and Northern Province Cricket Umpires Association in picking winners in this contest.