Observer - Mobitel Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year:

Keshan Gamage - a gifted cricketer

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

OBSERVER - MOBITEL: The encouragement given by the parents and the school was the key to success of the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2011 Keshan Gamage.

He was grateful to each and everyone who helped him to win the coveted title and his ultimate goal is to represent the country at Test level.

Keshan Gamage is determined not to neglect his studies, and will try his best to study well and also do well in cricket. He didn’t have any specialised training in cricket, it was his natural ability that took him along. The only coaching he gets is at school.

Keshan mentioned the names of his mentors Prasanna Mohotti and Sidath Liyanarachchie while playing in Ampara. Neil Rajapakse at St. John’s Nugegoda, B. P. Ranasinghe, Piyal Wijetunga, Chaminda Kodikara and their present coach Aubrey Kuruppu at Vidyartha College, Kandy who were instrumental in guiding him along in his cricket career.

He first attended D.S. Senanayake MV, Ampara and there after he had to come to St.John’s College, Nugegoda because his parents were attached to the Police Department.

Where ever the paren ts were transferred, Keshan had to accompany them and find a school.

While at St.John’s, Nugegoda, sitting for his GCE (O/L) examination, he played for St.John’s. Once the parents were drafted to Kandy. Gamage got the opportunity to enter Vidyartha College mainly because of his cricket.

While at St.John’s Nugegoda, his cricketing prowess was known and this helped him to enter Vidyartha without much difficulty.

Keshan is the second in a family of three children.

He has an elder brother and a younger sister, and his cricketing idols are Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka and West Indian big hitting Chris Gayle.