The pathway that led to greatness

by Dinesh Weerawansa

It is amazing to know the great achievements of the past Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketers in its 38-year-old cherished history.

The mega show, now considered the 'Mother of all school cricket award shows', has produced six Sri Lanka captains, one World Cup-winning captain, a world record holder, two ICC Match Referees, one ICC Chief Match Referee, one ICC elite panel international umpire, a Sri Lanka national coach, a Chief Selector and many Sri Lanka cricketers.

Those milestones do not include numerous other achievements by the other award winners. Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel is the proud sponsor of the event which had started nearly four decades ago. SLT Mobitel, supporting the show for the ninth consecutive year, is the third official sponsor in the history of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year series after Warner-Hudnut (Haliborange) and Bata.

Former Sri Lanka Test captain Madugalle won the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the year crown when Warner-Hudnut sponsored the inaugural event in 1979. Mobitel's presence as the sponsor of the much looked forward to event in the school cricket calendar, has further strengthened the original show which has recognised schoolboy talent over the past 38 years.

SLT Mobitel, the national mobile service provider, continues to provide that 'smart connection' to the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest, conducted by Lake House - the Associated Newspaper of Ceylon Limited. Apart from the support extended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year continues to enjoy the usual backing of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) and the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.

Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya and Dinesh Chandimal are the former Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketers who had not only played for Sri Lanka but also led the team. Mahanama and Chandimal led Sri Lanka teams in ODIs and T20 Internationals respectively while the rest have captained Sri Lanka in both one-day and Test formats.

Out of those past captains Madugalle and Mahanama went on to become ICC match referees. The former Royal captain later became the ICC Chief Match Referee, a position he holds with distinction to date. The 1980 and 1982 Observer Schoolboy Cricketer, Ranatunga later gave a dynamic leadership to the Sri Lanka team which beat Australia by seven wickets in Lahore in the final to win the 1996 World Cup. The 20th anniversary of that great moment of Sri Lanka cricketers conquering the Mount Everest in cricket, under Ranatunga, falls on Thursday (17). Besides Ranatunga, the World Cup-winning Sri Lanka team in 1996 included five more former Observer Schoolboy Cricketers - Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinha, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumara Dharmasena.That means more than half of that world champion team had come to the limelight through this great show which has always been the stepping stone for the country's budding schoolboy cricketers.

In former Nalanda captain Kumara Dharmasena, who had been a vital ingredient in the Sri Lanka team, especially in the ODIs, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer has produced one ICC elite international panel umpire.

He was the proud recipient of the prestigious Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title in 1989. Atpattu, the former Ananda and SSC skipper who won the coveted title in the following year, not only captained Sri Lana but had later served as the coach of the Sri Lanka team. Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya, the former Sri Lanka captain had earlier won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Outstation title 1988 as a product of St. Servatius' College, Matara. He later served as the chairman of the National Selection Committee. Jayasuriya, the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Cup tournament in the subcontinent, later took to politics and served as a Deputy Minister in the previous UPFA government.

Having served as Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, Ranatunga is currently serving as a Cabinet Minister in the new Government. In spin wizard Muralitharan, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest has also produced a World record holder. The champion off spinner who came to the limelight by capturing over 100 wickets each in successive seasons for St. Anthony's College, Katugastota went on to become the champion of the champions among Test bowlers. He holds the record for most number of Test wickets - 800 in 133 matches. Shane Warne of Australia captured 708 wickets.

Former Sri Lanka left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas, who is jointly placed 20th with Australian Dennis Lillee in that list of all time highest wicket takers in Test cricket with 355 scalps, had previously won the best bowler's award (all-Island) when he was playing for St. Joseph's College.Vaas has also served as the fast bowling coach of the Sri Lanka team.