Alan Lewis will inform his team-mates this morning that today's match against the MCC at Lord's is to be his last for Ireland. The former Irish captain has decided to end a career that began with a duck against the West Indies in 1984, but then flourished into what will be a record 122 appearances for his country.

Lewis holds the record one-day score for an Irish batsman - 127 not out against Gibraltar in the opening match of the ICC trophy in March - but it was Ireland's failure to qualify for the World Cup in that tournament that hastened his decision.

He might briefly have had second thoughts yesterday while setting yet another Irish record by blasting five consecutive sixes off the bowling of Gregor Kennis in the grounds of Arundel Castle.

Lewis's 51 off 30 balls, following another fluent half century by Ed Joyce, helped Ireland to 220-7 in a match against the Earl of Arundel's XI. The Earl's men, six of whom had county experience, suffered an England-like collapse and subsided to 182 all out to lose by 38 runs.