Cocaine charge cricketer remanded

Chris Lewis appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court

Former England cricketer Chris Lewis has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with attempting to smuggle drugs.

Mr Lewis, 40, of Bruce Road, north-west London, was arrested after 9lb (4kg) of cocaine worth about �200,000 was seized at Gatwick Airport on Monday.

He appeared before magistrates in Crawley with Chad Theron Kirnon.

Mr Kirnon, 26, of Carnegie Street, Islington, north London, was remanded in custody on the same charge.

The pair will appear at Mid Sussex Magistrates Court in Haywards Heath via video link on 17 December.

Mr Lewis, an all-rounder, played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals. He now works as a cricket coach.

Hidden in tins

Mr Kirnon, a basketball player registered with London Towers in the 2005/6 season, was arrested with Mr Lewis at the West Sussex airport.

Class A drugs were found in baggage removed from a flight from St Lucia in the Caribbean to Gatwick, the UK Border Agency said.

The cocaine, which was concealed in liquid form in fruit tins, was discovered as part of routine checks on a flight that arrived at 0600 GMT.

Mr Lewis, who was born in Guyana, claimed 93 wickets during his England Test career and finished with a Test batting average of 23.

He retired from county cricket in 2000 because of a persistent hip injury after spells with Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey.

He rejoined Surrey to play in 20-over matches for the 2008 season.

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