Last year’s winners Anandian Dinesh Chandimal (All Island)

In general a good thing becomes a tradition and the traditions take deep root in people’s hearts and when the moons turn into years they become legends. With a deep root of over thirty years the Bata Schoolboy Cricketer contests once again takes stage as the Sunday Times-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show for the third successive year from today.

Over the years the show has really identified the cream of talent in the country and the majority of those who have been identified by the versatile judges have crossed the boundary lines with full national honours.

Last year there was no difference, the day of the awards presentation young Ananda skipper Dinesh Chandimal turning out for the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team scored a stylish 64 runs and top scored for the home team against the strong New Zealand pace attack.

While Chandimal took the top honours, Imesh Udayanga of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda was also crowned as the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

To recognize and salute the talents of these future national stars, a galaxy of past cricketers in the calibre of - Chaminda Vaas, Jayantha Seneviratne, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Graeme Labrooy along with the Chief Guest of the night secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket Nishantha Ranatunga took time off their busy schedules to grace the occasion.

Once again this year too there will be over 50 awards on offer.

Besides the top awards once again the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer awards will be on offer and the respective fans gets the opportunity to vote for their favourite schoolboy cricketers.

All in all it points to be a great season ahead of us where we could expect good fare in all segments of the game.

The main category awards list reads as:
All Island Contest
Best Batsman and runner-up
Best Bowler and runner-up
Best Fielder and runner-up
Best Allrounder and runner-up
Best Team and runner-up
Best Up and coming team
Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the
Year and runner-up
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and runner-up
Outstation Contest
Best Batsman and runner-up
Best Bowler and runner-up
Best Fielder and runner-up
Best Allrounder and runner-up
Best Team Southern Province and runner-up
Best Team Central Province and runner-up
Best Team Sabaragamuwa Province and runner – Up
Best Team North Western Province and runner-up
Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and runner-up
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and runner-up
International Schools Contest
Best Batsman and runner-up
Best Bowler and runner-up
Best Allrounder and runner-up
Best Team and runner-up
Most popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and runner-up
Most Outstanding International Schools’ Schoolboy Cricketer of the year