Adrian Lewis has predicted the reaction he’ll see from former mentor Phil Taylor when he makes his long-awaited return to darts.
Lewis, a two-time world champion, will head back to the oche at the MODUS Super Series later this month after a two-year hiatus.
‘Jackpot’ is set to feature alongside Steve Beaton in the International Pairs and play in the Influencer Showdown from August 25.
But when he appears at the Live Lounge in Portsmouth, he could play in front of the legendary Taylor, who will commentate on Pluto TV.
Lewis learned from the 16-time world championship winner early on in his career and faced him five times in major PDC finals.
When asked by talkSPORT Darts if he had sought any tips from Taylor ahead of his return, he said no.
“But what has gone through my mind, I can remember when he used to tell me off when we were playing pairs together,” he revealed.
“I can imagine if he’s going to be commentating on the games, I’m going to hear him shouting at me.”
Lewis and Taylor, who practiced together in their hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, won four World Cup of Darts titles together.
Representing England, they beat Australia in 2012 and then Belgium a year later to become the first back-to-back winners.
They lost in the 2014 final, but won the following two years against Scotland and the Netherlands respectively.
Lewis and Taylor remain the record World Cup winners, with Dutch pair Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld on three titles.
4
4
With his return on the horizon, Lewis also told talkSPORT about the work he’s putting in when practicing: “I am [ready], I’ve been putting a lot of work in to be honest.
“I’ve been doing at least three hours a day. But what I’m doing is, Target have sent me some darts and then I’ve asked for a couple different sizes, different lengths of barrel.
“I’m throwing well with both of them, so now I’m in a predicament, which ones do I use?
“I’ve got a couple of weeks yet, so that’s where I’m at at the minute with them.”
Why has Lewis been away from darts?
Lewis announced that he would be taking a break from competing in tournaments in April 2023, and he later lost his PDC Tour card.
He has been taking care of his ill wife Sarah who has MSK [Medullary Sponge Kidney], an incurable kidney disease.
4
“It’s basically spongy kidney,” Lewis said to The Guardian. “So even if she has operations, the stones start coming back.
“Lots of appointments to see how they’re progressing. Sometimes she’ll be in hospital for two weeks at a time.
“They reckon by the time she’s 40, she’ll be on dialysis. We just crack on with it. That’s all we can do.”