Ian Lewis (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
William Ian Lewis, usually known by his middle name (29 September 1935 in Dublin, Ireland
– 20 November 2004 in Dublin) was an Irish cricketer
. A right-handed batsman, he played twenty times for the Ireland cricket team between 1955 and 1973 including five first-class
matches. His son Alan Lewis
also played cricket
for Ireland.
at Lord's
in September 1955 and his first-class debut came the following June against Scotland. He played twice more in 1956; against Sussex
and the MCC, and twice in 1957; against Scotland and the MCC before the first substantial gap in matches.
It would be almost three years before he returned to the Irish side, playing a match against Leicestershire
in August 1960, before another gap, this time for almost two years, playing against Pakistan in June 1962. He played four times for Ireland in 1963, including two matches against the West Indies, before his longest gap in appearances, this time for seven years.
He returned to international duty for a match against the Combined Services
in August 1970, playing against the MCC the following month. Matches against the Netherlands, the Combined Services and the MCC followed in 1971, before his final first-class match against Scotland in June 1972. His last match for Ireland was against Canada at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
in September 1973. He later served as president of the Irish Cricket Union
in 1989.
at an average of 12.61, with a top score of 41 against the West Indies in June 1963. He never bowled for Ireland. His top first-class score was 20 against Scotland, whom he played against in all but one of his first-class matches.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
– 20 November 2004 in Dublin) was an Irish cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
. A right-handed batsman, he played twenty times for the Ireland cricket team between 1955 and 1973 including five first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches. His son Alan Lewis
Alan Lewis
David Alan Lewis is an Irish former cricketer and current Rugby Union referee. His father Ian also played cricket for Ireland...
also played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Ireland.
Playing career
Though his last match for Ireland was just over eighteen years after his first, he was never a regular member of the side, regularly being absent from the national side for long periods. His debut was against the MCCMarylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
in September 1955 and his first-class debut came the following June against Scotland. He played twice more in 1956; against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
and the MCC, and twice in 1957; against Scotland and the MCC before the first substantial gap in matches.
It would be almost three years before he returned to the Irish side, playing a match against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
in August 1960, before another gap, this time for almost two years, playing against Pakistan in June 1962. He played four times for Ireland in 1963, including two matches against the West Indies, before his longest gap in appearances, this time for seven years.
He returned to international duty for a match against the Combined Services
Combined Services cricket team
The Combined Services cricket team represents the British armed forces. The team played at first-class level in England for more than forty years in the mid-twentieth century. Their first first-class match was against Gentlemen of England at Lord's in 1920, while their last was against Oxford...
in August 1970, playing against the MCC the following month. Matches against the Netherlands, the Combined Services and the MCC followed in 1971, before his final first-class match against Scotland in June 1972. His last match for Ireland was against Canada at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
The Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club is a sporting club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:The club's history dates back to 1827 when the Toronto Cricket Club was established in part by the efforts of George Anthony Barber. Cricket was joined by the Curling Club in 1836, and the Skating...
in September 1973. He later served as president of the Irish Cricket Union
Irish Cricket Union
Cricket Ireland, officially the Irish Cricket Union , is the governing body for cricket in Ireland , and oversees the Ireland cricket team and Ireland women's cricket team...
in 1989.
Statistics
In all matches for Ireland, Lewis scored 353 runsRun (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. Runs are scored by a batsman, and the aggregate of the scores of a team's batsmen constitutes the team's score. A batsman scoring 50 or 100 runs , or any higher multiple of 50 runs, is considered a particular achievement...
at an average of 12.61, with a top score of 41 against the West Indies in June 1963. He never bowled for Ireland. His top first-class score was 20 against Scotland, whom he played against in all but one of his first-class matches.