There has been a greater response for the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer contest as the final weeks of voting has begun with the completion of the first term inter-school matches. With only a couple of months to go for the grand finale, there has been heavy voting during the past few weeks and the contest, conducted under three divisions, should turn out to be a keenly contested tussle during its final lap. Voting coupons for the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest appear in the Daily News, Sunday Observer, Dinamina and Thinakaran.

Former Sri Lanka captain and ex-chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya said the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title would take outstanding young players closer to the Sri Lanka ‘cap’.Commending the Sunday Observer for conducting the event for 40 long years, the explosive former Sri Lanka batsman said the mega title he won in 1988 as an emerging player from St. Servatius College, Matara was a great source of encouragement and inspiration.

Seven former Sri Lanka cricket captains, who had enjoyed exemplary careers at school level, have commended the exemplary role played by the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest during the past 40 years. They shared the common view that the Mega Show has made a priceless contribution to promote school cricket and recognize milestone achievements of schoolboy cricketers, even at a time there had not been any official inter-school tournaments.

School cricket will be at its best with the key matches scheduled to be played during the coming weeks. At the same time, the race for the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year will reach its climax with the commencement of the traditional inter-school ‘Big Matches’ from this weekend.