The day Kusal crowned himself in cricketing glory
The runs had been posted, the wickets claimed, the catches clasped, the victories registered and the champions decided. All that remained to be done was something every one of the talented young cricketers, gathered at the BMICH on Friday for the Bata-The Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards, was all too familiar with: collect the prizes that recognize and honour their on-field brilliance.
Fittingly, the emperor on this night of cricketing royalty, precocious wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis, hailed from Prince of Wales’
Kusal Mendis receiving his award from the Chief Guest Ana Punchihewa flanked by finance Director Bata Shoe Company Hatta Tutuko and Lal Jayawardena Director, Wijeya Newspapers Limited.
College Moratuwa and his procurement of the coveted Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title ensured that his school was firmly planted on the Lankan cricket map.
As he was escorted onto the stage by a troupe of dancers, Kusal was simultaneously joining a distinguished parade of former and current national stars, such as current Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal, Arjuna Ranatunga, Muttiah Muralitharan and Thilan Samaraweera to name a few, who have used this competition as a launch pad for their subsequent success.
Kusal too is well on his way to carving his own cricketing reputation, having already been made captain of the Sri Lankan Under 19 team. He added to his glittering night by securing the Best Batsman award, an accolade which garners much esteem given the quantity of batting talent which currently exists at the school level.
However, his was but one, albeit the most significant, story of this 34th awards ceremony. The annual cricket extravaganza once again ignited with the lighting of the event’s now signature human oil lamp. Following this Chief Guest Ana Punchihewa, who as President of Sri Lanka Cricket in 1996 was instrumental in securing the Wills World Cup, passionately and eloquently conveyed the importance of players placing faith in their ability.
“Believe in yourself and the stars are the limit,” he stressed. And indeed the room accommodated a constellation of players who were capable of launching themselves into the stratosphere of world cricket.
Apart from Kusal there was Yohan de Silva, the runner-up Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year from Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda. De Silva, whose 1049 runs and 111 wickets makes him an invaluable all-round asset, did not walk away entirely winless after his outstanding season with the ball earned him the Best Bowler trophy.
The night’s other notable winner was Basith Muzammil from Wesley College, who took home the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer
Danushka Sandaruwan the winner of the Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer category receives his award from Hemaka Amarasuriya, Director Bata Shoe Company while Chief Guest Ana Punchihewa, Director Wijeya Newspapers Lal Jayawardena and Schoolboy Cricketer of 2012 Niroshan Dickwella looks on.
award. Muzammil’s victory in this category was a true bolt from the blue triumph, as a late surge of votes propelled him past Minhaj Jaleel of Thurstan College, who for numerous weeks seemed guaranteed to win.
Interspersing the awards presentation and enlivening the ceremony were a varied range of entertaining musical acts from the band Vision with Lasantha, Nadini Premadasa, Athula Adhikari and Rodney Warnakulasuriya.
However, the hits of the event, particularly with the uninhibited young award winners, were the energetic performers from the Prasadhi Dance Academy. Their carefully-choreographed and well-executed moves constantly elicited wild applause and their repeated appearance at these awards over the years has made them as much a part of the event as the cricketers themselves. Flittingly comperes Faizal and Daphne kept the cricketers moving up the line with aplomb.
The Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Kusal Mendis of Prince of Wales College showing off his proud possession - the Trophy. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte and Hasitha Kulasekara
Nevertheless, it is was the young players who were the most applauded, both by their peers and the numerous distinguished guests. Particularly loud cheers erupted for Richmond College Galle, the winner of the Best All-Island School team, which also fielded the competition’s Best Captain and second-best fielder, Hasitha Madushan.
Lyceum Wattala were also a raucous bunch on the night and they had good reason to be one with their sizable collection of silverware. They left a deep imprint on the International Schools category, with them winning Best Team and Sanjeew Kumaraswamy being named Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.
Leighton Park is another international school which can walk away from these awards with a rich supply of pride after Walid Jiffry laid siege to the Most Popular Cricketer with a massive tally of 25601 votes, nearly a 1000 votes more than his nearest competitor Sasika Rathnathilake from Lyceum Nugegoda.
As the eminent panel of judges strode off the stage after handing the last and most important award to Kusal Mendis the room burst to life in a cacophony of music, laughter and chatter. The curtain had come down on another eventful awards night. However, it is comforting to note that next year it will rise once again to reveal what is sure to be an even greater spectacle.
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