OBSEVER- MOBITEL Cricket star Sadeera plans to go far in cricket
by Ranjan Anandappa
As any schoolboy cricketer's ambition is to one day to represent the
country at the highest level, the Sunday Observer/ Mobitel Schoolboy
Cricketer Of The year Sadeeras Samarawickrema 's intentions were quite
clear as he became only the second player from St.Joseph's college,
Colombo to win the richest school cricket award since Josephian Rohan
Weerakkody won it in 1987.
Samarawickrema the 2014 winners of the Schoolboy Cricketer of the
year was an active member of the Josephian 1st XI Cricket Team for five
consecutive years and played a vital role for his school as an opening
batsman and a wicket- keeper. During his five year tenure in the team he
had developed to be a sound opening batsman and a steady wicket-keeper.
His confidence in both forms of the game gave the side a tremendous
boost and has inspired the rest of the other team members to build the
Josephian cricket team to be a threat to the other schools.
"Winning the coveted Schoolboy Cricketer of The Year trophy has been
one of my ambitions from the day I played serious cricket for my school.
It is no doubt a big leap towards big time cricket and I am confident
that I can make the grade up to the highest level said Samarawickrema.
Most award winners have gone far
Most of the players who have won the award have gone on to represent
the country. Former Trinity wicket-keeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella is
the latest addition to the list of the schoolboy Cricketers who have won
the award and gone on to play for the country in quick succession.
Earlier in 2009, Anandian Dinesh Chandimal won the award and represented
the country in double quick time.
The new star Samarawickrema believes that his confidence and
concentration has given him the power to overcome many situations while
playing.
He was a member of the Sri Lanka Under 19 team in the Youth World Cup
played in Dubai last year, and later also played against Youth teams
from India, Australia and Bangladesh.
Samarawicrema savours the 80 runs which he got against England in the
Youth World Cup. Samarawickrema has still not got a chance to play in
any of the 'A' teams, but given the opportunity he is positive that he
could perform well as the modern day cricket is very competitive.
Joes received two main awards
Two Joes took away two major trophies at the National competition in
last year's Schoolboy Cricketer Of The year contest. Samarawickrema won
the main award in addition to being judged as the Best Batsman.
The other Joe Priyamal Perera too had a prolific school cricket
season and a Sri Laka Under 19 representative carried away the Best
Fielder's Trophy in the National segment.
Both, Samarawickrema and Perera were Sri Lanka schools
representatives and paid the highest tribute to the contest which has
lasted over three decades.
They said that many school cricketers feel that winning a trophy at
the contest is something like a key to forge ahead in one's cricketing
career.
"We feel that many versatile cricketers are coming through the system
and sincerely hope that the contest will be long lasting" the duo
quipped.
The present system of having three segments, namely Platinum, Gold
and Silver should open new avenues for the school cricketers, specially
from the outstation schools. |