Lewis continued: "I spent a couple of fantastic years here and we played some pretty great cricket, so it's great to be back at Surrey.

"I had some wonderful times here, we won a couple of one-day competitions. When the ground is full it's absolutely fantastic and now the new stand makes it looks more like a stadium.

"Since retiring I've kept on playing, I've played club cricket up and down the country.

"Over the last few years I've been playing a few games for the PCA and they've got the masters series which is pretty good.

"It's 20-over cricket, some of it against counties, and each year they play the tourists."

Lewis, who joined in pre-season training at the Oval, has been brought in for his experience as a bowler in the limited over game and he says he is ready for the challenge of facing the explosive batting approach of the Twenty 20 game.

"I suppose it's always been my bag, being the opening bowler you come on when the slog is on - then you have a bit of a rest and come back on when another slog is on," explained Lewis.

"I'm used to that, I'm going to be prepared for that, obviously I hope to use some of the stuff that I've picked up over the years and try to get one or two wickets.

"I said to Al (Butcher) at the beginning that if I was going to come back and give it a go then I wanted to do it properly not just turn up and play, I wanted to go into the gym and do the work and see if the body was up to it and it's so far so good.

"Going to the gym and staying in shape helps your overall standard of life, you feel healthier and more confident so it's something that has held me in good stead and enabled me to come back.