Former BRC captain Presley Polonnowita, who is going great guns in Dubai, would have definitely become the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and also take the Best All-rounder award for outstations in 1988, if not for Sanath Jayasuriya of St. Servaitus’ College, Matara deservingly marching towards both feats.
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Rohan Weerakkody, is perhaps the only schoolboy cricketer to win five titles in a single Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. Yet, his 1987 glory was confined only to school cricket and failed to go beyond Sri Lanka youth level. In an exclusive interview from Laguna, Lusiana in the Philippines, Weerakkody said he has no regrets and was honoured to win those awards. “It was an honour to win five titles including the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in a single event,” he said.

We spoke about one of the promising cricketers of yesteryear who had been unfortunate not to go beyond the top prize of school level - Rohan Buultjens last week. The outstanding cricketer from St. Peter’s College, Colombo, was only the third cricketer to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title after Ranjan Madugalle (1979 in the inaugural year) and Arjuna Ranatunga (second winner in 1980), both went on to captain Sri Lanka with distinction.

One of the promising cricketers of yesteryear who had been unfortunate not to go beyond the pinnacle of school cricket was Rohan Buultjens, who was adjudged Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1981. The brilliant cricketer from St. Peter’s College, Colombo, was only the third cricketer to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title after Ranjan Madugalle (1979 in the inaugural year) and Arjuna Ranatunga (second winner in 1980), both went on to captain Sri Lanka with distinction.

Every effort would be made to host the Observer-Mobitel School Cricketer of the Year 2020 grand finale before the end of next month. The long-overdue Mega Show has been held up due to the Covid-19 pandemic which not only disrupted this year’s inter-school matches but the entire lifestyle of all nations across the globe.

When the Observer-Mobitel School Cricketer series history is talked about, we cannot forget one great cricketer who has been a part of it, be it as a school batsman or a school captain. Most importantly, his gentlemanly qualities have been proved beyond doubt in every stage of his half a century contribution to the gentleman’s game. As a player and captain at school, club and at national level, his enormous qualities have been widely displayed for almost 50 years.

All arrangements will be made to host the 42nd Observer-Mobitel School Cricketer of the Year awards presentation, no sooner the organizers get the green light from the health authorities to go ahead with the arrangements. The Mega Show which was scheduled to be held on November 18 was postponed indefinitely due to the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, which badly affected the Western Province.

The 2020 Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year Nimesha Wijesundara, the captain of Marapola Maha Vidyalaya, Minuwangoda said that she was delighted to climb on top after she finished runner-up last year. The 19-year-old lass from Minuwangoda in the Gampaha district was the runner up in the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year contest in 2019 when her team was ranked sixth among cricket playing girls schools in the country.

The 2020 Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Anuda Jayaweera of Ananda College, Colombo 10 said he was delighted to be voted for the rich prize. In his maiden interview after the title was decided last week, the 18-year-old Ananda opening batsman said his next aim is to become the 2021 Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.

Anuda Jayaweera of Ananda College, Colombo 10 became the 2020 Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year as the voting concluded last weekend. Nimesh Wijesundera of Marapola MV, Minuwangoda accounted for the 2020 Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year as the counting ended last Monday.