Murali Observer-Bata schoolboy cricketer 1991

by Leslie Fernando

The Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest opened the door for budding cricketers to further their interest in the game. The contest is a forerunner for cricketers to gain recognition at higher levels.

Ranjan Madugalle was the Observer-Bata first Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979 and (earlier in 1978. Madugalle won the award when the contest was sponsored by Warnet-Hudunut Limited). Madugalle needs no introduction in cricket, be it in Sri Lanka or in the outside world these days.

He is a past Sri Lanka captain and what's most important is the fact that he was the youngest in the International Panel of match referees and was in charge of 1999 World Cup final and now is the Chief Match Referee of the ICC.

The fact that these contests cater to the very best is reflected in the results - Arjuna Ranatunga, (Ananda College) Captain of the World Cup team 1996 won the Observer-Bata Contest in 1980 and 1982, Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda College) an ICC match referee was crowned as the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice in 1983 and 1984.

Sanath Jayasuriya was a schoolboy at St. Servatius College, Matara and won the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award and was later the Sri Lanka skipper after Arjuna Ranatunga.

Marvan Atapattu (Ananda College) who won the Observer-Bata Contest in 1990 went on to captain the Sri Lanka cricket team with success. Muttiah Muralitharan (St. Anthony's College, Katugastota) one of the two leading spin bowlers in the world today won the main award in 1991.

Thilan Samaraweera (Ananda) who has represented Sri Lanka in several Test matches and one-day Internationals and who is the present Sri Lanka 'A' team captain come on par with Madugalle, Ranatunga, Mahanama winning the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year on two occasions in 1994 and 1995.

Over the years, this contest has catered to cricketers not only in popular schools but it has gone deep into the interior. This year, beside Saliya Tennakoon of Kegalu Vidyalaya being picked as the Best Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Ananda Maithriya College, Balangoda has been picked as the Best Up-and-Coming Team.

Gihan Rupasinghe, Nalanda College cricket captain will receive the all important trophy for the 'Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2006 along with 'Best Allrounder's trophy (all-island) on October 4 at the BMICH.

The Observer and Bata has kept the show going for long 28 years.

Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year - a peep into the past...

1978 - Ranjan Madugalle, 1979 - Ranjan Madugalle (Royal), Arjuna Ranatunga (Ananda), 1980 and 1982 - Rohan Buultjens (St. Peter's College), 1981 - Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda), 1983 and 1984 - Asanka Gurusinghe (Nalanda), 1985 - Roshan Jurangpathy (Royal), 1986 - R. Weerakkody (St. Joseph's College), 1987 - Sanjeewa Ranatunga (Ananda), 1988 - Kumara Dharmasena (Nalanda), 1989 - Marvan Atapattu (Ananda), 1990 - Muttiah Muralitharan (St. Anthony's, Katugastota), 1991 - Sajith Fernando (St. Anthony's, Katugastota), 1992 - Naveed Nawas (D. S. Senanayake College), 1993 - Thilan Samaraweera (Ananda), 1994 and 1995 - Nimesh Perera (St. Sebastian's College), 1996 - Chinthaka Jayasinghe (Dharmapala Vidyalaya), 1997 - Pradeep Hewage (St. Benedict's College), 1998 - M. Pushpakumara (Ananda), 1999 - Kaushalya Weeraratne (Trinity), 2000 - Kaushal Lokuarachchi (St. Peter's College), 2001 - Sahan Wijeratne (Prince of Wales), 2002 - Perveez Maharoof (Wesley), 2003 only Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest was held in 2004 and 2005, Gihan Rupasinghe (Nalanda) 2006.