“Phil hasn’t played for donkey’s years now” – Adrian Lewis relishing special comeback with Phil Taylor

Adrian Lewis cannot wait to share the stage with Phil Taylor again. The successful English duo, who won the World Cup of Darts together four times, will reunite soon as a pair at the International Pairs of the MODUS Super Series. For Lewis, the reunion not only brings back great memories but also marks another step in his careful return to competitive darts.

Lewis did not hesitate when he heard Taylor was interested in the event. “Chase had messaged me and said Phil’s interested in doing the pairs at the Super Series. How would you feel about it? And I thought, well, as soon as I heard Phil’s name, I thought, well, he hasn’t thrown darts for God knows how long. I thought, yeah, I’m up for it. I’m really excited about it."

The two know each other inside out. In their prime, Taylor and Lewis formed the English dream team at the World Cup of Darts for years. “Like I say, we know each other’s game inside out. We’ve won the World Cup four times together. He’s just as excited as I am as well. So, like I say, it’s going to be really fun. And we’re going to try our damn best to win it, yeah, for England for the first time."

According to Lewis, the strength of their partnership was in how they constantly pushed each other higher. “I think the success, well, how we got the success was the fact that we were pushing each other. You know, we demanded a lot from each other as well. You know, we wanted to win the World Cup and bring it back home. So, and that’ll be no different to now when we play.”

The reunion inevitably stirs memories of their past successes. The nerve-shredding clash with Australia stands out most for Lewis. “The Australian one where nobody could even watch the board. And when he hit that double five, I think it was more luck than judgement, to be fair. But yeah, I really enjoyed it,” Lewis joked.

There is little debate about the roles, says the two-time world champion. “He’s 16-time world champion and he was always a captain anyway when we were playing. So that’s not going to change.”

Lewis is not entirely sure where Taylor stands competitively, though ‘The Power’ has assured him he is practicing daily. “I know he’s told me he’s been practising every day, which I do believe him. So obviously he’s not going to be as sharp straight away. But I think after a few legs, I think we can click and do some damage."

Lewis is satisfied with his own form. “My game’s pretty, in a pretty good shape. I think I’ve been hitting a couple of nine-darters as well. So that’s going really well.”

His expectations for the pairs event are crystal clear. Asked what he and Taylor aim to achieve, he gave a short, sharp answer: “Win. That’s it. Don’t look at anything else. We’re there to win.”

The comeback with Taylor aligns with Lewis’s own plans. The 41-year-old Englishman is increasingly considering a return to the professional circuit but refuses to rush it. An immediate leap back to the Pro Tour is not on the cards for now.

“I think that’s got to be my route back, I think. Because I don’t want to go straight back into the Pro Tour and now, within six months, think 'I’ve made a wrong decision here.'” Lewis first wants to get used to full match rhythm again. “I want to go back onto the Challenge Tour, get my competition side back and then make sure I enjoy it and then push on from there.”

The exact path remains uncertain. Lewis has spoken with Gary Plummer of his sponsor Target, but not yet with PDC chief Matt Porter. His first objective on the Challenge Tour also would not be to win everything. “I think the main goal at the start is to get into the top ten or fifteen and then work my way back up towards the Pro Tour.”

That will be a unique experience, says Lewis. Not only because of the standard, but also because a two-time world champion would be playing among hundreds who watched him on television for years. “I think, is the fact that you’re probably having to sign autographs and photos with everybody, which obviously I don’t mind doing if I’m doing exhibitions and just normal day-to-day life.”

First comes the reunion with Taylor. And while Lewis admits there will be nerves, it will not change their ambition. “I think we’re both going to be nervous until we get on the stage. And like I say, it’s going to take a couple of legs, but we are there to win."

If they do pull it off, it would add a special chapter to their shared story, says Lewis. “I think it’ll be a proud moment. I think, like I say, Phil hasn’t played for donkey’s years now, so, yeah, just having him back on the stage, it’s just all brilliant.”