Anthony Robert Lewis CBE (born 6 July 1938) is a Welsh former cricketer, who captained England, became a journalist, went on to become the face of BBC Television cricket coverage between 1986 and 1998, and became president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Early life Tony Lewis was born in Swansea, the first of two children of Wilfrid Lewis and his wife Marjorie (née Flower). The family moved to Neath after the Second World War. Following his service in the war as a major, Wilfrid managed an insurance office in Neath, and then joined the Civil Service. Tony Lewis attended the Gnoll School in Neath and Neath Grammar School for Boys, where he learned the violin exceptionally well and was selected to play first violin for the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, as well as playing cricket and rugby for the school. He represented the Welsh Secondary Schools v England Schools at cricket for five years and captained his country for three of them. In rugby football he made his first-class debut for Neath at the age of nineteen and followed up with a full season for Gloucester, as well as representing thereafter the Royal Air Force, Cambridge University and Pontypool. He also played cricket for the Royal Air Force and Combined Services. At Christ's College, Cambridge, he read History in which he graduated as BA and MA. In his first University year he was a freshman double blue in rugby union and cricket. He was elected President of the Christ's College Marguerites and in 1962, President of the University Hawks Club, residence of the highest achievers in all Cambridge sports. Cricket career Lewis made his first-class cricket debut in 1955 at the age of 17, playing for Glamorgan against Leicestershire in the County Championship while still at Neath Grammar School. He was an amateur cricketer until the governing bodies of cricket decided that all first-class cricketers should sign professional playing contracts beginning in the 1963 season. In his first decade as a Glamorgan player he retained his amateur status, representing the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players matches at Lord's and Scarborough. He was also chosen as a first violinist by the National Youth Orchestra of Wales in 1955. After doing his national service in the RAF, he established himself in first-class cricket in 1960, when in his first year at Christ's College, he scored 1307 runs for Cambridge