13-year-old Gaby Lewis becomes first international cricketer to be born after 2000

Gaby Lewis (left) with Trent Johnston [Photo credits – Fox Sports]

Ireland’s Gaby Lewis became the second youngest cricketer (male or female) to make an appearance in international cricket, when she took to the field against the South African women’s team last Tuesday.

Lewis was 13 years and 166 days during her debut T20 international, beating teammate Elena Tice to 2nd place on the list of youngest debutants in international cricket history. Tice had made her debut back in 2011 at the age of 13 years and 272 days.

Pakistan’s Sajjida Shah holds the record for being the youngest cricketer to feature at the international level, having made her debut at the age of 12 years and 271 days in 2000.

Lewis could manage to only score 5 at a run-a-ball on her debut as South Africa comfortably beat Ireland by 46 runs at the Moseley Cricket Club in Solihull. In her 2nd T20I at the same venue, the 13-year-old remained not out on 12, but that wasn’t enough as the Irish fell short again, conceding the 3-match T20I series 3-0 to the African side.

The Dublin-born teenager was called up to the international squad after her impressive all-round performance – 38 with the bat and 1/2 in 2 overs (at an economy rate of 1 rpo) with the ball – against the Netherlands women’s team last month in an ICC Europe Women's T20 Qualifier.

Born on March 27, 2001, Lewis is the first cricketer, born after the turn of the millennium, to play international cricket. Gabby’s father Alan Lewis is a former Ireland cricket captain and made 121 appearances for the Irish men’s team.

The youngest male cricketer to play international cricket is Pakistan’s Hasan Raza, who made his debut at the age of 14 years and 227 days against Zimbabwe back in 1996.