Ronald Reid - won by a mere whisker from Chandrasiri Weerasinghe in 1957

SCHOOLBOY CRICKETER OF THE YEAR 1957 ...Ronald J. Reid of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia was the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 1957. The panel of umpires comprising Messrs Dodwell de Soysa (Chairman), Laddie Bakelman, Joe Saverimuttu and Emilion E.V. Ellias made the decision in this office.

Reid won by a mere whisker from Chandrasiri Weerasinghe the Nalandian on account of his fine fielding throughout the season. In third place was Ranjith Doranegama (St. Anthony's, Katugastota) fourth was Sonny Yatawara (Ananda College), fifth Lasantha Rodrigo (Prince of Wales) and sixth was Daya Amerasinghe (Ananda College).

The panel of umpires did a fine job in picking the winners with the material available. The panel of judges laid stress on fielding and behaviour on and off the field. In addition to the two factors mentioned, another necessary qualification was either batting and/or bowling or wicket-keeping.

The panel first took into account the 26 schools who had requested umpires from the Cricket Umpires Association of Ceylon.

From these 26 schools, the umpires picked out the following cricketers as outstanding performers from various teams: S. Yatawara, A. Polonowita and D. Amarasinghe (Ananda College), R. Dorenegama (St. Anthony's Katugastota), L.P. Rayen, N. Casiechetty, C. Waidyaratne and N. Wickremasinghe (St. Benedict's) K. Caldera, R. Malawana (St. Joesph's), C. Dharmawardena (Kingswood College), Stanley Amendra (Mahinda College), C. Weerasinghe, Sarath Silva (Nalanda College), J. Fernando, D.D. Silva (St. Peter's College), L. Rodrigo (Prince of Wales College), M. Wille, E.L. Pereira, M. Wijesinghe (Royal College), R.J. Reid, M. Tissera, M.L. Idroos (S. Thomas' College), M. Kurukulasooriya (Trinity College), L. Ebert, W. de Kretser (Wesley College), M. Anver and M.A. Farook (Zahira College).

The list boiled down to 16 in the second round: Yatawara, Polonowita, D. Amarasinghe, Dorenegama, Rayen, Casiechitty, Waidyaratne, Caldera, Malawana, Weerasinghe, Rodrigo, Wille, M. Wijesinghe, R.J. Reid, Tissera and L. Ebert.

The list was then pruned down to 10 when the umpires started discussing the individual cricketers. The ten cricketers left: Yatawara, Amerasinghe, Dorenagama, Caldera, Malawana, Weerasinghe, Rodrigo, Wille, Reid and Ebert.

Ronald Reid of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia was picked as the Ceylon Daily News Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in the competition sponsored by Hemachandra Brothers.