Chris Lewis (cricketer)
Clairmonte Christopher Lewis (born 14 February 1968[1])[2] is an English former cricketer, who played for Nottinghamshire, Surrey and Leicestershire in the 1990s. He played in 32 Test matches and 53 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for England between 1990 and 1998.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Clairmonte Christopher Lewis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 14 February 1968 Georgetown, Demerara, Guyana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Carl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right arm fast-medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 544) | 5 July 1990 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 26 August 1996 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 106) | 14 February 1990 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 23 May 1998 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1991 | Leicestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | Nottinghamshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Surrey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Leicestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Surrey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 9 December 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lewis was regarded as an aggressive lower-order batsman, fine fast-medium bowler and an able all-round fielder. He was regarded as a colourful player of the game, who never quite lived up to his early potential.[2] He was later convicted of drug smuggling.
International career
His century in Madras on the occasion of his 25th birthday, on England's 1993 tour of India, gave hope for a bright international future.[2]
Lewis was labelled "The Prat without a Hat" by The Sun, after he was forced off the field with sunstroke having shaved his head and not worn any protection, during the first match of England's tour of the West Indies in 1994.
Domestic career
Lewis always felt he was driven out of county cricket after alleging that three England teammates had taken bribes to throw matches (a charge that was never substantiated). He was subsequently jeered by crowds and cold-shouldered by players, including his county teammates. It coincided with a decline in his form, and he left professional cricket, aged just 32.
In 2006, he captained Clifton Cricket Club, in the Central Lancashire Cricket League, where he opened the batting and the bowling. In his spare time, he also coached children in Berkshire.
He played four games for Stockton in the Newcastle District Cricket Association in 2007/08.[3]
In 2008, Lewis re-signed for Twenty20 matches for Surrey, in light of his bowling experience.[4] However, his comeback was short and unsuccessful. He played one Friends Provident Trophy game, in which he conceded 51 runs in six overs, and one Twenty20 match. He took no wickets in either.[5]
Lewis captained his boyhood Wembley Cricket Club in the Middlesex County Cricket League in 2016.
Cocaine smuggling
On 8 December 2008, Lewis was arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of smuggling 3.37 kilograms of liquid cocaine, with a street value of about £140,000, into the United Kingdom on a flight from Saint Lucia.[6][7]
After a trial at Croydon Crown Court, on 20 May 2009 Lewis and basketball player Chad Kirnon were found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in prison.[8][9] He was released in June 2015 after serving 6 years of his sentence at HMP High Down.[10]
References
- "Birthdays". The Guardian. 14 February 2014. p. 41.
- Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 110. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
- England A quick Graham Onions joins Stockton
- "Veteran Lewis re-signed by Surrey". BBC News. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- Booth, Lawrence (December 2008). "That sinking feeling". The Wisden Cricketer. Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
- England cricketer Chris Lewis gets 13 years for cocaine smuggling
- "Cocaine charge cricketer remanded". BBC News. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
- Kennedy, Maev (20 May 2009). "Former England cricketer Chris Lewis gets 13 years for cocaine smuggling". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- "Drug smuggling cricketer jailed". BBC News. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- "Lewis released from prison". ESPN Cricinfo. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
External links
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