Gaby Hollis Lewis (born 27 March 2001) is an Irish international cricketer and captain of the Ireland women's team.

Gaby Lewis
Personal information
Full name
Gaby Hollis Lewis
Born (2001-03-27) 27 March 2001 (age 23)
Dublin, Ireland
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm leg break
RoleAll-rounder
Relations
International information
National side
ODI debut (cap 76)5 August 2016 v South Africa
Last ODI27 November 2024 v Bangladesh
T20I debut (cap 32)9 September 2014 v South Africa
Last T20I15 September 2024 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2015–2018Dragons
2019–presentScorchers
2021Southern Brave
2021Southern Vipers
2022Northern Superchargers
2023Barbados Royals
Career statistics
Competition WODI WT20I WLA WT20
Matches 47 91 95 149
Runs scored 1,268 2,223 2,869 3,426
Batting average 30.19 28.50 35.86 27.85
100s/50s 0/9 2/12 4/17 3/18
Top score 96* 119 122 119
Balls bowled 659 90 1,215 318
Wickets 10 3 19 8
Bowling average 71.50 40.00 61.94 43.50
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0
Best bowling 2/41 2/20 2/21 2/14
Catches/stumpings 12/– 29/– 30/– 49/–
Source: CricketArchive, 27 November 2024

She made her senior international debut in July 2014, aged only 13[1] and made her Twenty20 International (T20I) debut later in the same year, becoming the youngest to play at that level. The International Cricket Council (ICC) named Lewis as one of the five breakout stars in women's cricket in 2018.[2]

She currently captains the Women's Super Series team Scorchers.[3] In June 2022, at the age of 21, Lewis became the youngest player to captain the Ireland Women's team in international cricket.[4]

Early life

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Lewis was born in Dublin. Her older sister, Robyn Lewis, has played alongside her both at club and national level,[5] while her father, Alan Lewis, and grandfather, Ian Lewis, both represented the Irish men's side.[6][7] Both members of Dublin's YMCA Cricket Club, the Lewis sisters first came to attention in November 2013, when they were named in Cricket Ireland's Emerging Players Squad.[8] Gaby Lewis was first called up to Ireland's senior team in July 2014, playing five matches against English county sides in the ECB Women's Twenty20 Cup.[9] She subsequently made her international debut in August, playing twice against the Netherlands at the 2014 European Championship.[10] In the second of those matches, she scored 38 from 35 balls coming in third in the batting order, which included a 94-run partnership with Clare Shillington (20 years her elder).[11][12]

Domestic career

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Lewis has played in the Women's Super Series for Dragons and Scorchers, and began captaining Scorchers ahead of the 2020 season.[3][13] On 12 August 2021, Lewis was signed as a replacement player for Southern Brave in The Hundred, after Smriti Mandhana returned home.[14] She played two matches for the side, scoring just 9 runs.[15] She was also signed by Southern Vipers for the remainder of their 2021 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign.[16] She played four matches, scoring 97 runs at an average of 24.25, as the side won the competition.[17] In 2022, she was signed by Northern Superchargers in The Hundred as a replacement for the injured Jemimah Rodrigues.[18]

International career

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In September 2014, Lewis was selected in Ireland's squad for a three-match T20I series against South Africa, played at a neutral venue in Birmingham, England. She sat the first game out, but was included for the final two games, scoring five runs on debut and then 12 not out in the third game.[19] On debut, Lewis was 13 years and 166 days old, breaking the record set by her teammate Lucy O'Reilly for the youngest T20I player.[20] She also became the first international cricketer born in the 21st century.[21] Across all men's and women's international cricket (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), only Pakistan's Sajjida Shah has played at a younger age.[22]

After her debut series against South Africa, Lewis next played at international level in August 2015, when she was named in Ireland's squad for a three-match series against Australia.[19] In the first match, she came in sixth in the batting order, and scored 23 runs from 30 balls, behind only Cecelia Joyce.[23] She had less success, however, in the other matches, scoring four runs in the second game and ten in the third.[24][25] Later in the year, Lewis also played in the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier in Thailand.[26] At the 2016 World Twenty20 in India, she played in two of her team's matches (against New Zealand and Sri Lanka), but had little impact.[19]

In June 2018, she was named in Ireland's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament.[27] The following month she was named in the ICC Women's Global Development Squad.[28] In October 2018, she was named in Ireland's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies.[29][30]

In August 2019, she was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 Netherlands Women's Quadrangular Series, with 180 runs from six matches.[31] The following month, she was named in Ireland's squad for the 2019 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in Scotland.[32] In July 2020, she was awarded a part-time professional contract by Cricket Ireland for the following year.[33]

In August 2021, Lewis was named in Ireland's squad for the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in Spain.[34] In Ireland's opening match of the tournament, against Germany, Lewis scored 105 not out to become the first cricketer for Ireland to score a century in a WT20I match.[35] In November 2021, she was named in Ireland's team for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.[36]

In May 2022, Lewis was named as the captain of Ireland's team for their home series against South Africa.[37] In the first match of the tour, Lewis scored her 1,000th run in WT20I cricket.[38] In the next match, Lewis earned her 50th cap in the format.[39] On 26 August 2022, Lewis earned her 100th international cap for Ireland, scoring 92 in her side's victory against the Netherlands.[40]

In August 2024 Lewis made her highest score in international cricket with 119(75) to guide Ireland to a win over Sri Lanka and draw their T20I series.[41] A month later she made 72(56) as stand-in captain to lead Ireland to their first ODI win over England since 2001.[42]

Lewis was named full-time Ireland captain in October 2024, replacing teammate Laura Delany in the role. Head coach Ed Joyce commented saying that "Gaby, as a cricketer and leader, has continued to grow and improve year-on-year. Her analysis and reading of the game are excellent and her captaincy in Laura’s absence for much of this summer was outstanding. She is ready to take on the role of captain and I’m excited to see where she can take the team in the next few years."[43]

She was named as captain of the Ireland squad for their T20I and ODI tour to Bangladesh in November 2024.[44][45]

References

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  1. ^ "Gaby Lewis – A trailblazer generations in the making". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  2. ^ "2018 lookback – the breakout stars (women)". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Player Profile: Gaby Lewis". Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Record breaker Lewis as Ireland take on South Africa". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  5. ^ Robyn Lewis – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  6. ^ Ireland / Players / Alan Lewis – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  7. ^ Ireland / Players / Ian Lewis – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  8. ^ (7 November 2013). "Details of Irish Womens Squads" – Cricket Leinster. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  9. ^ Women's Twenty20 matches played by Gaby Lewis – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  10. ^ Women's miscellaneous matches played by Gaby Lewis – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  11. ^ Ireland Women v Netherlands Women, Pepsi ICC Europe Women's Division One 2014 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. ^ Clare Shillington – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Women's Super 50 Series to kick off on Monday; squads named". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  14. ^ "THE HUNDRED: Ireland's Gaby Lewis Replaces Smriti Mandhana For Brave". CricketHer. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Records/The Hundred Women's Competition, 2021 - Southern Brave (Women)/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Ireland International Gaby Lewis Joins Southern Vipers". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Records/Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy 2021 - Southern Vipers/Batting and Bowling Averages". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Rodrigues out of Hundred with injury; Lewis replaces her at Superchargers". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Women's Int Twenty20 matches played by Gaby Lewis – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  20. ^ Records / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Individual records (captains, players, umpires) / Youngest players – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  21. ^ (15 September 2014). "Teenager Gaby Lewis becomes first international cricketer to be born in 21st century" – Fox Sports. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  22. ^ (16 September 2014). "13-year-old Gaby Lewis becomes first international cricketer to be born after 2000" – Yahoo! News. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  23. ^ Ireland Women v Australia Women, Australia Women in England and Ireland 2015 (1st Twenty20) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  24. ^ Ireland Women v Australia Women, Australia Women in England and Ireland 2015 (2nd Twenty20) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  25. ^ Ireland Women v Australia Women, Australia Women in England and Ireland 2015 (3rd Twenty20) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  26. ^ (27 October 2015). "Preparations step up ahead of T20 WCQ" Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Cricket Europe. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  27. ^ "ICC announces umpire and referee appointments for ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier 2018". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  28. ^ "Meet the Global Development Squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Final squad named for World T20, Raack set for Ireland debut". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  30. ^ "Laura Delany to lead "strong and experienced" Irish side at World T20". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  31. ^ "Women's T20I Quadrangular Series (in Netherlands), 2019: Most runs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Match official appointments and squads announced for ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Cricket Ireland award new set of women's contracts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  34. ^ "Ireland Women's squad announced for T20 World Cup European Qualifier". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  35. ^ "Gaby Lewis makes history as Ireland start Qualifier tournament with big win". Cricket World. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  36. ^ "Ireland squad announced for Women's World Cup Qualifier; amendments made to tournament schedule". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Gaby Lewis to captain Ireland Women for South Africa series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Lewis, Paul, Kelly headline Ireland's upset win over South Africa in series opener". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  39. ^ "International Women's Cricket Series: South Africa square series against Ireland 1-1 after 8-wicket win". Cricket World. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  40. ^ "Gaby Lewis scores 92 on her 100th appearance as Ireland complete Dutch clean sweep". Irish Times. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  41. ^ Sport, P. A. (13 August 2024). "Gaby Lewis' record breaking score inspires Ireland T20 victory over Sri Lanka". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Ireland v England: Victory against England shows 'character' in Ireland's group - GabyLewis". BBC Sport. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  43. ^ Easdown, Craig (15 October 2024). "Leadership change". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  44. ^ "Ireland name squad for Bangladesh series". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  45. ^ "Young Ireland squad named for Bangladesh tour". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 November 2024.

Further reading

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