Chris Lewis (cricketer)

Chris Lewis

Personal information
Full name	Clairmonte Christopher Lewis
Born	14 February 1968 Georgetown, Demerara, Guyana
Nickname	Carl
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler, lower order batsman
International information
National side	England
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
2008	Surrey
1998–2000	Leicestershire
1996–1997	Surrey
1992–1995	Nottinghamshire
1987–1991	Leicestershire
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODI FC LA Matches 32 53 189 266 Runs scored 1105 374 7,406 3,959 Batting average 23.02 14.38 30.73 24.59 100s/50s 1/4 –/– 9/34 1/14 Top score 117 33 247 116* Balls bowled 6,852 2,625 32,004 11,846 Wickets 93 66 543 312 Bowling average 37.52 29.42 29.88 26.38 5 wickets in innings 3 – 20 2 10 wickets in match – n/a 3 n/a Best bowling 6/111 4/30 6/22 5/19 Catches/stumpings 25/– 20/– 154/– 104/–
Source: Cricinfo, 9 December 2008

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 thirty two Tests and fifty three ODIs for England from 1990 to 1998.

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 for drug smuggling.

Life and 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.

Lewis always felt he was driven out of county cricket, after alleging that three England team-mates 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 Twenty 20 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]

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][10] He was released in June 2015 after serving 6 years of his sentence at HMP High Down.^[11]

References

1. "Birthdays", The Guardian, 14 Feb 2014, p. 41
2. Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 110. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
3. England A quick Graham Onions joins Stockton
4. "Veteran Lewis re-signed by Surrey". BBC News. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
5. Booth, Lawrence (December 2008). "That sinking feeling". The Wisden Cricketer. Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
6. England cricketer Chris Lewis gets 13 years for cocaine smuggling
7. "Cocaine charge cricketer remanded". BBC News. 9 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
8. "Ex-England Cricketer Lewis To Go on Trial". Sky News. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
9. Kennedy, Maev (20 May 2009). "Former England cricketer Chris Lewis gets 13 years for cocaine smuggling". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
10. "Drug smuggling cricketer jailed". BBC News. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
11. "Lewis released from prison". ESPN Cricinfo. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.

External links

• Cricinfo The one that got away
• The Times article – Lewis still enjoys his days in the sun