Mick Lewis
Encyclopedia
Michael Llewellyn "Mick" Lewis (born 29 June 1974) is an Australian cricket
er.
, Lewis was a grade cricketer who played for Northcote
and the Victorian Bushrangers
gave him his first-class debut in the 1999/2000 season. Over the next few years, he re-modelled his action and considerably improved his game, and had outstanding seasons in 2002/03, 2003/04 (the season in which Victoria won the Pura Cup
) and 2004/05.
He was one of two Australian overseas players for Durham CCC in 2006 (the other was Jimmy Maher
, brought back on the back of success as a back-up in 2005. He did not live up to expectations as he proved expensive at times, and he averaged 76.33 with the ball in the ECB
's 40-over one day competition, the pro40. He was also warned by the ECB for swearing.
.
His spot in the team was not secure, as the 31-year old Lewis had been dropped for the VB Series
in favour of 28-year-old paceman Brett Dorey
, only to be recalled late in the series to replace Glenn McGrath
who had returned home due to a recurrence of his wife's cancer. There were signs Lewis' bowling was improving when he snared 2/38 off 10 overs in the 4th ODI in South Africa.
between South Africa
and Australia, Lewis had the ignominy of becoming the most expensive bowler in ODI history with figures of 10-0-113-0 in his 10 overs, breaking Muttiah Muralitharan
's record set only a month before. Lewis was the most expensive bowler on the team during the match, when captain Ricky Ponting
brought him on for his final spell. This decision was due to Lewis' reputation as good bowler at "the death," meaning the final few overs, when runs are needed by the batting team. Lewis' performance did not improve however, and he became the first bowler in ODI history to concede more than 100 runs in a 50 over match. Lewis was then dropped from the Aussie squad, and later his central contract was not renewed.
and Clinton McKay
to make their debuts, and when Lewis returned from injury, he found it difficult to adjust and return to his previous form. By the following season, Lewis was struggling to keep his spot in the side consistently.
In early 2008, Lewis announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, citing the fact that his mind was not in it anymore and hoping to allow younger bowlers to continue their progress.
The Following Year Mick was made Captain of Coburg's First XI Mens Side and Led them a Championship and Premiership.
Lewis was called up to play for the Retravision Warriors
in the 2010-11 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. He took a wicket with his first ball, bowling Tasmanian
batsman Mark Cosgrove
. He ended with figures of 3/46 from 4 overs and was run out for a duck as the Warriors' last man out.
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...
er.
Grade career and state career
Born in Greensborough, VictoriaGreensborough, Victoria
Greensborough is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule. At the 2006 Census, Greensborough had a population of 20,214....
, Lewis was a grade cricketer who played for Northcote
Northcote, Victoria
Northcote is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin...
and the Victorian Bushrangers
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
gave him his first-class debut in the 1999/2000 season. Over the next few years, he re-modelled his action and considerably improved his game, and had outstanding seasons in 2002/03, 2003/04 (the season in which Victoria won the Pura Cup
Pura Cup
The Sheffield Shield is the domestic cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during...
) and 2004/05.
He was one of two Australian overseas players for Durham CCC in 2006 (the other was Jimmy Maher
Jimmy Maher
James Patrick Maher is a former Australian cricketer. He is "an attractive left-handed batsman with a clumping cover-drive"....
, brought back on the back of success as a back-up in 2005. He did not live up to expectations as he proved expensive at times, and he averaged 76.33 with the ball in the ECB
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
's 40-over one day competition, the pro40. He was also warned by the ECB for swearing.
Call up to national team
He was finally called up to the Australian ODI team in late 2005, where he made his debut against New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee TrophyChappell-Hadlee Trophy
The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in cricket is an annual ODI series between Australia and New Zealand. It is named after legendary cricketing families from the two countries, the Chappell brothers of Australia and Walter Hadlee and his three sons, , of New Zealand.The trophy is currently held by...
.
Debut series
Lewis was crucial in his first game, taking three wickets for the match as well as a run out in the final over which helped secure victory. His second match, however, was a different story. Lewis was the most expensive bowler, with the figures of 1/77 off nine overs as New Zealand successfully chased down a record 331.His spot in the team was not secure, as the 31-year old Lewis had been dropped for the VB Series
VB Series
The Australian Tri-Series refers to the one day international cricket tournament held between 1979-80 and 2007-08 between the home side and two touring teams, in the height of the Australian cricket season, i.e. during the summer months of December, January and February. Between 1979–80 and 1995–96...
in favour of 28-year-old paceman Brett Dorey
Brett Dorey
Brett Raymond Dorey is an Australian cricketer. He played four One Day Internationals for the Australia national cricket team in 2006, picking up two wickets. He played domestic first-class and one-day cricket for the Western Warriors from the 2004–05 to 2010–11 seasons.-Life and career:Dorey was...
, only to be recalled late in the series to replace Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath
Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...
who had returned home due to a recurrence of his wife's cancer. There were signs Lewis' bowling was improving when he snared 2/38 off 10 overs in the 4th ODI in South Africa.
Most expensive ODI bowling
In the multiple record-breaking 5th One Day InternationalAustralia in South Africa, 5th ODI, 2006
The 5th One Day International cricket match between South Africa and Australia was played on 12 March 2006 at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The match broke many cricket records, including both the first and the second team innings score of over 400 runs. Australia won the toss and elected to...
between South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
and Australia, Lewis had the ignominy of becoming the most expensive bowler in ODI history with figures of 10-0-113-0 in his 10 overs, breaking Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan , often referred to as Murali, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002...
's record set only a month before. Lewis was the most expensive bowler on the team during the match, when captain Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting , nicknamed Punter, is an Australian cricketer, a former captain of the Australian cricket team between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very...
brought him on for his final spell. This decision was due to Lewis' reputation as good bowler at "the death," meaning the final few overs, when runs are needed by the batting team. Lewis' performance did not improve however, and he became the first bowler in ODI history to concede more than 100 runs in a 50 over match. Lewis was then dropped from the Aussie squad, and later his central contract was not renewed.
Road to retirement
Following Lewis' dropping from the national side, he continued to play for Victoria, and was a handy contributor until injury struck the following season, and Lewis was forced out during a time in which Victoria did not have a single fit contracted pace bowler in their entire squad. This opened the door for several young pacemen, such as Darren PattinsonDarren Pattinson
Darren John Pattinson is an English cricketer who currently plays for Victoria and Nottinghamshire.Pattinson received considerable press coverage when he was surprisingly selected for the England cricket team in July 2008 for the 2nd Test against South Africa at Headingley...
and Clinton McKay
Clinton McKay
Clinton James "Clint" McKay is an Australian cricketer. He is currently a member of the Victorian Bushrangers side and has represented Australia at one day international level. A right-arm fast-medium bowler who stands at 194 cm, he made his first class debut for Victoria in November 2006...
to make their debuts, and when Lewis returned from injury, he found it difficult to adjust and return to his previous form. By the following season, Lewis was struggling to keep his spot in the side consistently.
In early 2008, Lewis announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, citing the fact that his mind was not in it anymore and hoping to allow younger bowlers to continue their progress.
Return from retirement
In 2008 Mick Lewis began playing for Coburg Cricket Club in the Victorian Subdistrict Cricket Association. He won the bowling award in his first year and finished well in the Clubs best and fairest.The Following Year Mick was made Captain of Coburg's First XI Mens Side and Led them a Championship and Premiership.
Lewis was called up to play for the Retravision Warriors
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
in the 2010-11 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. He took a wicket with his first ball, bowling Tasmanian
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
batsman Mark Cosgrove
Mark Cosgrove
Mark James Cosgrove is a left-handed batsman and part-time medium pace bowler, who is contracted with the Tasmania for the 2010–11 season after previously playing for South Australia. In 2005 Cosgrove was named the Bradman Young Player of the Year...
. He ended with figures of 3/46 from 4 overs and was run out for a duck as the Warriors' last man out.