Mick Lewis Recalls Shane Warne Text Message After Record Bowling Figures
Mick Lewis has revealed that Shane Warne sent him a text message in the Johannesburg dressing room within hours of his figures of 0/113, the worst bowling return in ODI history at the time. The Mick Lewis Shane Warne exchange came straight after Australia’s record 434-run total was chased down by South Africa in September 2006.
Warne, who was in South Africa for a Test match at the time, reached out directly. Lewis discussed the moment in a Fox Sports Australia interview. “I remember ‘Warnie’ texted me. He was at the hotel because he was over there for the Test match,” Lewis said, recalling a message that simply read “how are you feeling?”
Warne then extended an invitation that has stayed with Lewis ever since.
When you get back to the hotel, come up to my room and let’s have a beer.
Lewis conceded 113 runs without taking a wicket in his 10 overs during that final ODI appearance for Australia, a return that set the record for the worst bowling figures in the format’s history. Speaking to reporters at Sydney Airport afterwards, he kept his perspective.
Look, I just had a bad day at the office. Everyone has them and we move on. That’s life.
South Africa Chase Down Australia Target of 434 in Johannesburg Chaos
Australia posted 4/434 in Johannesburg, built around Ricky Ponting’s 164 off 105 balls. Michael Hussey, Simon Katich and Adam Gilchrist each added half-centuries as Australia set what was then the highest total in ODI history.
South Africa responded by chasing the target down with one wicket and one ball to spare, completing one of the format’s most famous run chases.
Lewis explained the confidence that shaped Australia’s approach after winning the previous two matches of the series. “It was a five-game series, and we lost the first two, but then we won in Durban and Port Elizabeth, so we were pretty confident,” he said. He also pointed to conditions at the Wanderers, known locally as the Bullring.
But then we knew with what we were doing and the conditions at the Bullring that it was a pretty good wicket. We thought if we could take early wickets we could put them under pressure.
That plan did not survive contact with South Africa’s batting. “Maybe we were slightly overconfident because maybe we thought we’d just go out there, they’re going to have to come hard at us, we’ll get some early wickets and it’ll be okay,” Lewis said. “They came hard all right and they kept coming harder and harder.”
Lewis remembered Jacques Kallis’s read on the chase as it unfolded. “It was an amazing game. I think the famous quote was Jacques Kallis walked off and said, ‘they’re 20 short’. I think he proved to be right in the end,” he said. “At the time, it was chaos everywhere. It was a great game to be a part of.”
The match remains one of cricket’s historic limited-overs classics, and a reference point whenever a total above 400 comes under threat.
International Career Fallout and Transition to Coaching at Yorkshire
Lewis never played for Australia again after the Johannesburg match. He finished his international career with seven ODIs and two T20Is, and lost his Cricket Australia contract shortly afterwards.
With his playing days behind him, Lewis moved into coaching. He became Victoria’s bowling coach and later took up a role as assistant coach with English county side Yorkshire, work that has kept him closely engaged with Australian domestic cricket developments long after his own playing career ended.
Reflections on Historic Johannesburg Match as Coaching Career Continues
Lewis said the significance of the match only grew in the years that followed. “I never really thought about the game until people started asking me questions five, ten years later,” he said.
Now settled into coaching, Lewis looks back on the Johannesburg ODI as part of the sport’s folklore rather than a low point to dwell on. The Mick Lewis Shane Warne text is still the detail supporters ask him about most.
