Darts News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Lawrence Lustig/PDC

'I've been putting a lot of work in... at least 3 hours a day' - Adrian Lewis has Phil Taylor in mind as he steps up preparations for darting return

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Aug 17, 2025 12:18 PM ET

Adrian Lewis is gearing up for a long-anticipated return to the oche — and while he’s been putting in the hard graft behind closed doors, one familiar voice might still be echoing in his head: Phil Taylor.

The two-time world champion is set to rejoin the competitive scene later this month after a two-year break, with appearances in the MODUS Super Series, the International Pairs (alongside Steve Beaton), and the Influencer Showdown, starting 25 August.

At the Live Lounge in Portsmouth, Lewis may well find himself throwing in front of Taylor — not as an opponent, but as a commentator for Pluto TV. The 16-time world champion was Lewis’s long-time mentor, sparring partner, and rival — the pair famously met in five major PDC finals and formed one of the most formidable duos in World Cup history.

Asked by talkSPORT Darts whether he’d reached out to Taylor for advice ahead of his comeback, Lewis grinned: "But what has gone through my mind, I can remember when he used to tell me off when we were playing pairs together," he said. "I can imagine if he's going to be commentating on the games, I'm going to hear him shouting at me."

A winning partnership

Between 2012 and 2016, Lewis and Taylor delivered a golden era for England in the World Cup of Darts, winning four titles in five years — defeating Australia, Belgium, Scotland and the Netherlands along the way. Their only near-miss came in 2014. To this day, their four-title haul remains a tournament record, with Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld trailing behind on three.

It was a period that saw Lewis not only thrive under Taylor’s influence but also forge his own path as one of the most naturally gifted throwers in the modern game.

A serious return — not just a run-out

After two years away from the circuit, Lewis is determined to return with intent, and has been quietly putting in the hours to rebuild his game. "I am [ready], I've been putting a lot of work in to be honest," he said. "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 of 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?" Lewis ponders. "I've got a couple of weeks yet, so that's where I'm at at the minute with them."

It’s clear Lewis isn’t treating this as a farewell tour — he’s looking to compete properly, rediscover rhythm, and stake his claim once more at the professional level.

Stepping away — and why he did

Lewis walked away from the sport in April 2023, later losing his PDC Tour Card. The decision wasn’t driven by form or fatigue, but by something far more personal: concern for his wife, Sarah, who lives with a rare, incurable kidney condition known as MSK (Medullary Sponge Kidney).

"It's basically spongy kidney," Lewis explained 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."

With his home life now more stable and his daily practice regime back in place, Lewis is ready to re-enter the sport with fresh focus and a point to prove.

Still got something to say

For many darts fans, Lewis’s natural ability was never in doubt — but consistency and mindset often got in his way. Now, with the outside noise quietened and his old mentor possibly calling the action from the sidelines, he’s poised to remind the sport what he’s capable of.

And if things go well in Portsmouth, it might just be the start of something bigger.