LEWIS AND FOWLER IMPRESS ON PCA COUNTY VISITS Former England Test players Chris Lewis and Graeme Fowler proved popular additions to the PCA team on the recent pre-season visits to the 18 first-class counties and MCC Young Cricketers. The annual visits inform and educate county players about the services provided by the PCA and major changes in the game but they were given an extra dimension by the presence of Lewis and Fowler this year. Lewis spoke to players about the importance of personal development and planning for life after cricket after he was jailed for 13 years in 2009 for smuggling liquid cocaine into England. The former England all-rounder was released from prison last year and is committed to helping educate current players to ensure that they do not make the choices he did. Fowler, the former Lancashire and Durham opening batsman, has already appeared in the PCA’s Mind Matters series discussing depression and mental health issues. He again helped to raise awareness of these important issues and the support that the PCA offers past and present players in a number of ways including the PCA Confidential Helpline. ” This is a new initiative to take a couple of people around with us to raise awareness of important issues. Chris and Graeme were very well received at all the clubs we went to and it is an initiative that we plan to continue going forward,” said Jason Ratcliffe, the PCA Assistant Chief Executive. ” Chris talked about the importance of Personal Development and highlighted to players the things that he didn’t do when he was playing to plan for the future. When his cricket career finished he had not planned properly and his thinking became confused. ” The essence of Personal Development is about planning now to ensure that the transition from cricket is as smooth as possible. ” The first two years after you have finished playing are the hardest while you are trying to move into another area. ” Graeme Fowler and his family have already done some outstanding work with the PCA in our Mind Matters series, highlighting the importance of mental health and well-being. ” It’s a topical and important issue at the moment and having Graeme with us on the pre-season county visits was invaluable. ” Judging by the number and variety of questions they were asked, the presence of Chris and Graeme was appreciated by the players and a huge success.” Among the county players who were impressed by Lewis’ contribution to the PCA county visits was Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read, who has been a PCA member since 1997. ” Someone with a story that extreme, you can’t help but be moved. Let’s be right, the PCA is a different organisation from when I started,” Read said. ” It’s fantastically supportive. The Personal Development Managers who work with players help to build outside interests and work to the future. ” That’s grown over my time significantly. I think the youngsters are better prepared now going forwards should their careers end early. ” Hearing from Chris Lewis can only benefit them.” {{ak_sharing}}
