Name:

Lewis, Chris C

Date of Birth:

14 Feb 1968

Gender:

Men

Place of Birth:

Georgetown, Guyana

Career:

Test: 1990 - 1996
ODI: 1990 - 1998

Teams:

Northamptonshire (Regional)
Leicestershire (Regional)
England (Country)

Teenage Tendulkar strokes first hundred in England (Old Trafford)

Chris Lewis (born 5 February 1968 in Guyana) is a former England all-rounder whose career spanned the late 1980s and 1990s. A tall, athletic cricketer, Lewis was a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler known for his ability to generate bounce and seam movement. He moved to England as a child and developed his game in county cricket, eventually becoming one of the country’s most naturally gifted all-round prospects.

Lewis made his Test debut for England in 1988 and went on to play 32 Tests, scoring 1,211 runs at an average just over 23, including one century, and taking 93 wickets with best figures of 5 for 106. In One Day Internationals, he appeared in 53 matches, claiming 48 wickets and contributing useful lower-order runs. His finest hour came during the 1992 World Cup final at Melbourne, where he produced a superb spell of 3 for 49 against Pakistan, briefly swinging momentum England’s way.

At county level, Lewis enjoyed strong spells with Northamptonshire and later Surrey, where his pace and batting ability made him a valuable asset. However, inconsistency and injuries often prevented him from fully realising his considerable potential at international level. Despite flashes of brilliance, he struggled to cement a permanent place in England’s side during a competitive era for seam bowlers.

Lewis retired from professional cricket in the late 1990s. His post-cricket life later drew public attention for legal troubles. In 2009, Lewis was arrested at Gatwick Airport after attempting to smuggle liquid cocaine into the United Kingdom from the Caribbean. The drugs, with an estimated street value of around £140,000, were concealed in fruit and vegetable cans in his luggage. In 2010, he was convicted at Croydon Crown Court for drug smuggling and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

He remains remembered for his athleticism, natural talent and his standout performance on the biggest stage in the 1992 World Cup final.