Wins award for the Best Batsman too

Cambrian Kusal Mendis Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

by Ranjan Anandappa

Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the year 2013 competition has caught up with interest with many cricketers in and around Moratuwa hitting the top.

The name Mendis creates a lot of curiosity among the cricket crazy fraternity in the country. Yet another Mendis will be added to the cricketing clan from Moratuwa as The Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the year Kusal Mendis who won the coveted award on Friday became only the second Cambrian to take away the award, with Sahan Wijeratne judged as the winner in 2002.

Kusal Mendis has been a regular member in almost every age category for Prince of Wales while at cricket. Many who have seen him in action ,feel that he is a future player to represent the country.

He has been scoring well at all levels and won his first XI cap four years ago. Kusal’s one and only ambition, like any other talented cricketer is to represent the country at the highest level in the near future.

He would have been a good bet for the Under 19 World Cup which was held in Australia last year , but was unfortunately not selected. However, he toured India, Bangladesh and Singapore and had a successful run.

The 18-year-old wicketkeeper and right-hand opening batsman, Kusal Mendis is hoping to represent the Sri Lanka Under 19 team at next year’s Under 19 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates and do well as an opening batsman. He said, soon after winning his award that he had achieved what he has targeted, the Schoolboy Cricketer of The Year Award which he feels something like a launching pad for his future cricket career.

He too feels that winning the two biggest awards in the contest, the main one and also carrying away the Best Batsman’s prize will give him a lot of confidence to forge ahead. He is a fourth-year coloursman and led the side last year and has plenty of experience as a schoolboy cricketer.

Mendis, paid a generous tribute to the organisers of the show the Sunday Observer and Mobitel and said that the contest was a tower of strength for the cricketers. Looking back, there are several past winners who have gone to represent the country which shows how valuable the contest is for the budding cricketers. The contest has been puffed up further by the introduction the third segment which will no doubt help the outstation cricketer enormously. The talented players outside Colombo could be identified better which augurs well for a better tomorrow. Besides the main awards, there are many other segments in the competition that has been won. These sections too, help the youngsters in their future cricket career.

Winning the Best Batsman, Bowler and Fielder’s awards have been done purely on merit, so the players who do well during the season are no doubt rewarded.