Promising young cricketer, Chrishen Warnasuriya to play in Surrey

Ayoung cricketer from S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Chrishen Warnasuriya, has been awarded a scholarship by a specialist cricket school based in the Surrey Hills, in the south east of England, to study and play cricket there. The 13-year-old allrounder who represents S. Thomas’ and SSC, Chrishen is a talented cricketer who has opened batting but can equally well adjust anywhere in the top or middleorder but more noted for his ability to spin the ball both ways with his natural ‘chinaman’, left-arm wrist spin, which he also mixes with leftarm orthodox and finger spin with ease with several variations from a relatively young age.

In addition to his college team, he was also playing for SSC and Champ Cricket Academy in Moratuwa and was almost certain to play first class cricket in Sri Lanka in the future. “Chrishen was born in London, so he’s really returning to his home,” Crishen’s father, Chrishmal Warnasuriya said with mixed emotions over the exciting offer from Surrey, coupled with the obvious absence of his only son from the family home, who is sure to be missed.

“Whilst Dinusha, his mother, and I would’ve loved to see him play here and turn out one day for my old school, S. Thomas’, it would be unfair to deny him this golden opportunity which may open up many possibilities for his future, mainly when looking at the deterioration of standards here and the general loss of hope by the youth in their future, which is patent,” the senior Warnasuriya added. The Grade 9 student, who is currently in the middle school of S. Thomas’, has many credentials for his age in both cricket and academics. Chrishen was just 7-years-old when he began playing cricket and within a year he was the captain of the SSC Under-10 and Under11 teams. He captained a team in Under11 at an Inter-House tournament at SSC and became the player of the match and best bowler in 2016. The following year too he played with great promise to win the awards for the most promising player and best bowler of the tournament in the same age category.

He continued his promising way of playing standards by becoming the winning captain of the same tournament in 2018, but this time he was leading the De Saram House in the Under-13s. He won the player of the match award and earned a slot in the Under-11 ‘A’ team of SSC to play in a local junior 30-over tournament.

Chrishen also captained the Under-12 team of Champ Cricket Academy against three visiting teams from Maldives and Surrey of UK in 2016 and against Sean Pollock CA from South Africa in 2018. He was a prominent member of the Under15 and Under-17 teams of SSC and Champ CA as a left-arm spinner.

“Everything depends on political influences which a newly rich class with no morals or ethics seems to be exploiting in all aspects of society. Even school cricket is now in the easy habit of lateral importations of good players from lesser privileged schools for their First XI teams just prior to the big matches, denying deserving lads who have played for the schools their entire lives their due place. As such we thought we will permit Chrishen to explore this amazing opportunity very kindly offered by this specialist cricket school, at least for him to try out for a while what his country of birth may offer him and then for him to decide the future when he’s a little bit older,” his father added.

Chrishen is also a promising all-round student besides his cricket, as he had passed with flying colours all the online tests given to him by the UK school. He was a junior prefect of S. Thomas’ and was actively involved in tennis, rugby and water polo besides cricket. Chrishen also has a knack for singing, literacy and oratory and he has won many accolades at competitions within the school and outside. He was also actively involved as a scout and school cadet at S. Thomas’.

“I must thank the warden and teachers of S. Thomas’, all his clubs, coaches and senior players who have helped and guided Chrishen thus far,” stated Chrishen’s father with great gratitude.

Chrishen’s father and mother remain with hopes that Chrishen will return to make them proud here in Sri Lanka.