Ken Lewis was a fast bowler who progressed from school and club cricket in mid-Wales to a place in the Glamorgan side during the 1950s.
Whilst on National service during the late 1940s, the Newtown-born seamer had taken 10/21 for the Royal Artillery in a match against Charterhouse. His success in Services cricket meant that when Ken completed his National Service he had trials with Worcestershire and Glamorgan.
He opted for the latter and during 1950 Ken joined Glamorgan`s staff, and he soon showed in 2nd XI games and in club cricket that he could bowl genuinely fast. Ken made his first-class debut in Glamorgan’s three-day friendly against the Combined Services at the Arms Park in June 1950. He opened the bowling with Norman Hever and claimed three wickets during a waspish spell.
However, Ken was handicapped by a series of niggling injuries and was unable to play on a regular basis. Ken was fit enough to appear in a dozen games during 1953 – a season which saw him claim career-best figures of 4/25 against Kent at the Arms Park – but he broke down again early in 1954. Fortunately, Ken was able to make eight appearances during 1955 and secure a contract extension for the following summer, but after six further first-class matches he sustained a serious leg injury in 1956 and was forced to retire.
He subsequently returned to Newtown where in recent years he has acted as President of the town’s cricket club.
LEWIS, Kenneth Humphrey
Born – Penygladdfa, Newtown, 10th November 1928.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 34 v Hampshire at Cardiff Arms Park, 1956; 4/25 v Kent at Cardiff Arms Park, 1953.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| F-c | 36 | 48 | 14 | 312 | 9.17 | – | – | 15 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| F-c | 4170 | 126 | 2044 | 55 | 37.16 | – | – |