Tony Lewis

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Tony Lewis bigraphy, stories - Welsh born, English Test and County cricketer, administrator

Tony Lewis : biography

6 July 1938 –

Anthony Robert (Tony) Lewis

He should not be confused with Tony Lewis, co-developer of the Duckworth-Lewis Method.

Life and career

Tony Lewis made his first-class debut in 1955 at the age of 17, playing for Glamorgan against Leicestershire in the County Championship while still at Neath Grammar School for Boys.Tony Lewis, Playing Days, Stanley Paul, London, 1985, pp. 10–16. After doing his national service in the RAF, Lewis, Playing Days, pp. 38–45. he established himself in first-class cricket in 1960, when in his first year at Cambridge he scored 1307 runs at 43.56, followed by 616 runs at 30.80 when he played for Glamorgan later in the season. He captained Cambridge in his final season there in 1962, when in all matches he made 2188 runs at 40.51, with five centuries. He also topped 2000 runs in 1966, when he made 2190 runs, more than anybody else in the season, at 40.51, including his only double-century, 223 against Kent at Gravesend after Glamorgan had followed on. He captained Glamorgan from 1967 to 1972, taking the county to its second championship in 1969, when Glamorgan went through the season undefeated.

He was the last man to captain England on his Test debut. He led England on a gruelling five-month tour in 1972/73 to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Despite having no Test match experience, Lewis scored 70 not out in his debut Test in Delhi, which guided England to their first victory on the Indian subcontinent for more than two decades. England lost the next two Tests, but Lewis went on to score his maiden Test hundred (125) in Kanpur. He went on to captain England a total of eight times, achieving England’s first Test victory in India since 1951, losing twice and drawing five times. In the light of his achievements, Lewis was picked as vice captain to Ray Illingworth, when the latter returned from his self-imposed hiatus the following summer.Lewis was asked by the Selectors to make himself available for the 1973-74 tour of West Indies but declined in order to take up opportunities in writing and broadcasting. Lewis is one of two English cricket captains to come out of Neath Grammar School, the other being C. F. Walters, nominated for a single Test when captains were always chosen from the amateurs in the team.

Daily Telegraph Playing Days

Lewis served a year as High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan for 1998. He was awarded the CBE for services to cricket, broadcasting and Wales, in the 2004 New Year Honours.

He married Joan Pritchard, also of Neath, in 1962.Lewis, Playing Days, pp. 84–85. They have two daughters.Lewis, Playing Days, p. 93.