Mick Lewis

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Mick Lewis
Australia
Personal information
Full name Michael Llewellyn Lewis
Nickname Billy
Born 29 June 1974 (1974-06-29) (age 33)
Greensborough, Victoria, Australia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Role Bowler
Batting style Right-hand
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
International information
ODI debut (cap 155) 7 December 2005: v New Zealand
Last ODI 12 March 2006: v South Africa
Career statistics
Tests ODIs FC List A
Matches 7 82 94
Runs scored 4 693 127
Batting average 9.49 9.07
100s/50s – /– – /– – /1 – /–
Top score 4* 54* 19
Balls bowled 341 14751 4508
Wickets 7 277 121
Bowling average 55.85 29.09 30.52
5 wickets in innings 7 1
10 wickets in match n/a n/a
Best bowling 3/56 6/59 5/48
Catches/stumpings – /– 1/– 35/– 25/–

As of 29 December 2007
Source: cricinfo.com

Michael Llewellyn "Mick" Lewis (born June 29, 1974) is an Australian cricketer.

Contents

[edit] Grade career and state career

Born in Greensborough, Victoria, 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.

[edit] 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 Trophy.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Most expensive ODI bowling

In the multiple record-breaking 5th One Day International 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 match. Lewis was then dropped from the Aussie squad, and later his central contract was not renewed.

[edit] 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 Pattinson 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.

[edit] References

Persondata
NAME Lewis, Michael Llewellyn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mick
SHORT DESCRIPTION Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH June 29, 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH Greensborough, Victoria
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages