Sajith Fernando - 2nd Observer Schoolboy Cricketer from Kandy

by Hafiz Marikar

Sajith Fernando was born on September 27, 1972, Kandy and he became the SECOND OBSERVER SCHOOLBOY CRICKETER from Kandy. Sajith started his cricketing career at St. Paul’s College Kandy (now goes as Sri Sumangala College) where he was guided and made to play good cricket by former Sri Lanka cricketer D.H. de Silva.

Then in the under-17 game between St. Anthony’s and St Paul’s, Sajith made a superb century, and this opened the door for him at Katugastota school. His father Ian Fernando was an Old Antonian. After crossing over to St. Anthony’s College he polished his cricket under T.K. Hannan and Sunil Wickremanayake.

So, Sajith Fernando became the SECOND OBSERVER SCHOOLBOY CRICKETER from Kandy in the Year 1992. Fernando should consider himself extremely unlucky for having being left out from selections to the National Team to represent the country at Test level despite being the number one choice to lead the country in ‘A’ team tours on a numerous of occasions.

St. Anthony’s ton cricketers

He played for the Antonians along with cricketers like Champika Siriwardena the present coach of the St. Anthony’s College, Muttia Muralitharan, Ameda Ellepola, Ajaz Shafeek, Umesh de Alwis, Asanka Ratnaweera, Dilshan Bandaranayake, Indika Beddegama, Lester Herathge, N. de Mel, Nishan Doranegama, Christopher Samaratunge and Jeremy Speldewinde.

In 1991, when Muttiah Muralitharan won the OBSERVER SCHOOLBOY CRICKER AWARD, Sajith Fernando was chosen as BEST BATSMAN in the Competition, and in the following year (1992), Sajith not only won the SCHOOLBOY CRICKETER OF THE YEAR, but also took the prizes for the Best All-rounder, Best Batsman (runner-up) behind Russell Arnold (St. Peter’s) and also became the runner-up for the Best Bowler, behind Punyakantha Abeygoonesekera (Nalanda).

In that year, Sajith Fernando scored five centuries for his school and fully endorsed his batting status to win the BEST BATSMAN’S AWARD. In 1992, the following year, Sajith Fernando did better scoring 1,000 runs for the season with four centuries and took 100 wickets and made himself eligible for the top award in school cricket sector.

Sajith unlucky

Sajith Fernando was one of those unlucky guys not to ‘don’ the Sri Lanka cap although he was good enough to lead strong ‘A’ teams and Board XI’s whenever a Test or representative team visited Sri Lanka or whenever a Sri Lanka ‘A’ or under-23 team toured any other country.

Apparently, he is a player who was good enough to captain a Sri Lanka ‘A’ team during a tour, let it be home or away with Test players or young Test aspirants. Sajith have been considered good enough to play for the Sri Lanka team, but Sajith Fernando was not that lucky. .

Sajith Fernando, the left-hand opening batsman scored over 10,000 first class runs and at one time was the head coach of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. At present he is with Port Authority Cricket.

In 1992 Sajith was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 Team led by Anandian Sachithra Alexander that toured England. The team included players in the calibre of Chaminda Vaas and Russel Arnold and Sajith was awarded the most outstanding contributor of the tour. The same year, he was a member of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team which took part in the SAARC cricket tournament.

On tour in South Africa

In 1993 he toured South Africa with the Sri Lanka Under-24 Team which was led by Sanath Jayasuriya and this was supposed to be the first ever official tour made by a Sri Lanka team. He was also the deputy skipper of the Under-24 Team against South Africa and later led the team in the final test match and two ODI matches.

In 1995, he was a member of the Sri Lanka cricket team led by Marvan Atapattu that took part in the Hong Kong Sixes and the TNT Worldwide Cricket Sixes held in Singapore where they emerged champions in both tournaments.

The same year he represented the Central Province Team in the Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournament and was judged the most promising player and the player of the province in this tournament. He went on to lead the Colts U/24 cricket team and guided them to become champions.

Sajith performance saw him being offered a scholarship by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, (Now known as Sri Lanka Cricket) where he represented the Beenleigh Logan CC in Brisbane. On his return he was given the responsibility of leading the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side against the South African counterparts.

In 1998, he was adjudged the man of the series in the premier limited over tournament when Colts emerged champions. Was a member of the Champion Colts Cricket Team which emerged premier league champions in the year 2000 and 2002 which team he led.

Played in many countries

Sajith after a stint with Colts CC and for the Tamil Union in Sri Lanka, was successful in guiding his side to become the premier limited over champions of 2009/10 cricket season.

Apart from his domestic cricket career he has played for various clubs overseas in Australia, England and Bangladesh. His stint in these countries gave him an opportunity to qualify as a Level I coach of Cricket Australia and Level II coach of English Cricket Board. Today he has taken up coaching and he looks forward to give off his best in the coaching field.