Lives in Cricket No 11 - CP Lewis

He still found time to play for the South Wales C.C. in 1885, whose activities now included home and away matches with Worcestershire, still almost a decade short of the Foster family’s influence, but there was no cricket week in Cardiff, only a visit to the coal metropolis by M.C.C. The London tour comprised just two matches, with Surrey and M.C.C.: he enjoyed modest success on the tour, scoring 22 and 30 at number five in the match at The Oval, before scoring 48 and taking three wickets at Lord’s. It proved to be his last full year of activities with the South Wales club as, at the 1886 annual general meeting, he stood down from both the match committee and the vice-captaincy. For once, he didn’t even attend the annual meeting, with J.P.Jones being elected in his place. In his absence he was re-elected to the match committee, but later wrote stating his inability to accept the office. There was further evidence as well that he was clearly disenchanted with the organisation of the club, given his submission of a notice of motion ‘that the South Wales Challenge Cup be discontinued’. It was, however, ruled out-of-order because it had not been submitted early enough to go out with the agendas. The big clubs had begun to abandon the Cup, no doubt because of the bad behaviour by players and crowds, and it was becoming more of a competition for newer and lesser clubs. The 1886 season began without Lewis appearing in the South Wales annual trial, held in Newport, although he still went to Lord’s to play against M.C.C., where he made 43 and 81 at number six, and failed to take a wicket. It proved to be his, and the South Wales Club’s last appearance at headquarters. They also played a nostalgic farewell match at Prince’s, against the Surrey Club and Ground side. The Surrey side included three players who in their time played Test cricket, plus Robert Henderson, a Wisden ‘Cricketer of the Year’ in 1890 and they duly won by eight South Wales Cricket Club: A Dream Dies 89 Lewis in a South Wales club cap in about 1886