Alec Stewart      

Full name Alec James Stewart

Born April 8, 1963, Merton, Surrey

Current age 46 years 215 days

Major teams England, Surrey

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Relation Father - MJ Stewart

When Stewart was in full flow, there were few who could live with him. Relying on touch, he was in his element against the quicks, cover-driving with a neat flourish and pulling with panache - most memorably when he thundered two centuries during England's storming of fortress Bridgetown in 1993-94. He was less secure against the spinners, however, and his instinctive style meant his career was a sequence of purple patches and less colourful troughs. Stewart's strength as an opening batsman was compromised by the selectors' desire for balance: he and Jack Russell swapped the wicket-keeping gloves regularly throughout the 1990s, but Stewart, better standing back than standing up, eventually became the regular No. 1. He took over the England captaincy from Mike Atherton in 1998 and promptly led the side to its first major series win for 12 years, against South Africa. But Stewart's leadership was based on passion not nous, and when England lost another Ashes series and flopped in the 1999 World Cup, he was harshly axed. He hit top form again during the 2000 one-day triangular series, and when he scorched a century in his 100th Test, the sheer length of the standing ovation he received suggested that Stewart had become a national institution. But his squeaky-clean image took a blow during England's 2000-01 tour of Pakistan when an Indian bookmaker alleged that Stewart had accepted money for information during England's trip to India in 1992-93. Stewart survived, though.Against India at Lord's in 2002, he crowned his achievements by becoming England's most-capped Test cricketer, overtaking Graham Gooch's record of 118 matches. Despite calls for a younger wicketkeeper to take his place, Stewart continued to give his all for England until he called it a day from all forms of the game after England's drawn series with South Africa in 2003. Fittingly, his final game was at The Oval in which he scored 38, but more importantly to a man like Stewart, England won. His love of the football-manager-style soundbite has earned him the nickname Gaffer.
Lawrence Booth

The name of Alec Stewart, together with that of his one-time opening partner Michael Atherton, was synonymous with the England side during the 1990s. He played in every year of the decade and toured during every winter. In fact, he was the leading run scorer in world Test cricket during the '90s with 6,407 runs at an average of 40.81. In 2000 he celebrated his hundredth Test appearance (by a remarkable coincidence, with Atherton) against the West Indies at Old Trafford, and marked the occasion with a century on the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

A fine player of impeccable pedigree (his father Mickey captained Surrey and played for England), Alec followed in his father's footsteps to The Oval and made his debut in 1981, receiving his county cap four years later. His most prolific years for his county came during the latter half of the '80s when he scored more than 1,000 first-class runs for the side in five successive seasons. Thereafter, his runs at The Oval were diluted because much of his summer was spent playing for England. However, the runs he did score for Surrey always came at a very healthy average, rarely dropping below 40.

Stewart's Test debut came at Kingston, Jamaica in February 1990, but it was not until his sixth Test the following summer against New Zealand that he hit his first fifty. His first century came in his 14th Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's in 1991. Three more hundreds swiftly followed in his next four games, and Stewart was firmly established in the England set-up. At Bridgetown, Barbados, in April 1994, he became the first Englishman to score a century in each innings against the West Indies, knocks of 118 and 143 steering England to victory. His highest score of 190 came against Pakistan at Edgbaston in 1992.

Over the years, Stewart has filled a plethora of roles. He was vice-captain to Atherton and Graham Gooch and captained the side himself for the first time against India in Chennai in February 1993. He was officially appointed captain in 1998 and led England for 14 Test matches altogether, including a series victory at home against South Africa. He also skippered them in the 1999 World Cup, standing down immediately afterwards.

Stewart played a major role in England's success in the summer of 2000 and on tour the following winter when they won four series in a row. He hit two centuries during the summer, against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. Although tackling the spinners was never his forte, he applied himself well the following winter in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and hit an invaluable half-century in Kandy. But his winter was overshadowed by the allegations of the Indian bookmaker Mukesh Gupta that Stewart had received £5,000 for providing information to a bookmaker about match conditions and team selection. Stewart vehemently denied the charges (and ever knowingly meeting Mr Gupta) and received the full support of the England & Wales Cricket Board in response. He was subsequently cleared of the allegations after Mr Gupta apparently refused to make a statement to Sir Paul Condon's Anti-Corruption Unit, or to appear at any disciplinary hearing or substantiate his claim.

Stewart started the 2001 season well, with seven catches and a scintillating cameo of 44 in the first Test against Pakistan at Lord's, which England won by an innings. After Nasser Hussain's thumb was broken by Shoaib Akhtar, Stewart agreed to deputise as captain, a post he was to hold for the second Test at Old Trafford and the one-day triangular series against Australia and Pakistan that followed. It was not a successful period. Pakistan won an excellent match in Manchester to square the series, and then joined Australia in sending England to six consecutive one-day defeats. When Hussain was again injured in the first Test against Australia, Stewart let it be known that he was not available to deputise.

Although the Ashes series was not one of his best, Stewart still finished fourth in the averages, scoring 283 runs at a shade over 35. He provided some rare entertainment at Headingley, where after being moved down to number seven and finding himself batting with the tail, he jettisoned the coaching manual to make an unbeaten 76 which included some extraordinary shots - one of which, off Glenn McGrath, went over extra cover for six.

During the final Test at The Oval, both Stewart and Darren Gough indicated that they were unavailable for England's winter tour of India. Stewart cited personal reasons (he needed a break) and the Gupta allegations. Although both players were available for the New Zealand tour in the New Year, the selectors took the view that it would set a dangerous precedent to allow players to "pick and choose" which elements of a winter tour they were prepared to undertake. They therefore issued contracts to cover both Test tours, and neither Stewart nor Gough was offered one. Despite his disappointment, Stewart confirmed his intention to play at least two more years' first-class cricket, and to regain his place in the England side.

Although Stewart was not initially given a central contract for the 2002 season, he began it in excellent form for Surrey both at and behind the wicket. That and the ill-fortune of the contracted wicket-keeper James Foster, who broke his arm in the nets, prompted a recall for Stewart for the first Test against Sri Lanka. It heralded yet another successful season, crowned at his favourite ground, Lord's, in July when he overtook Graham Gooch's record of 118 Tests to become England's most-capped cricketer in both forms of the game. Other highlights included his 15th Test century, against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, and his 200th catch as England's wicket-keeper when he caught Sourav Ganguly in the final Test at The Oval. Consistent batting and a safe pair of hands throughout the summer left many wondering why on earth England had considered managing without him.

Stewart continued to flourish on his fourth Ashes tour, despite starting the series with a pair. In the memorable final Test at Sydney he made a magical 71, taking him past Geoff Boycott to ninth place in the list of Test cricket's highest run-scorers. Of England players, only Graham Gooch and David Gower stood ahead of him. His keeping remained sound, particularly in the ensuing one-day series in which he took the number five batting position.

For many matches an opening batsman, Stewart has more recently gone in at various positions in the middle order. He has been wicket-keeper in a large proportion of his games and although the dual role has at times meant a dip in his batting average, it still represents an impressive return for an all-rounder. As an example of his ability to combine multiple roles, his 164 against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1998 is a Test record for a captain/wicket-keeper.

He announced his retirement from one-day cricket following the 2003 World Cup and many thought that he might have played his last Test as well in a season when he passed 40. However, "The Gaffer" as he is known in the game continued to perform to the high standards he had set himself and it was at his own moment that he chose to retire from Test cricket at the end of the 2003 series against South Africa.

Stewart was awarded the MBE in 1998 and OBE in 2003.

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1993

Awarded the MBE on 13th June 1998

Awarded the OBE on 14th June 2003

Apr 19, 2007

Alec Stewart watches his old side take on Yorkshire

© Will Luke

Feb 18, 2007

Collis King smashes a six as Alec Stewart watches on at the opening of the new Kensington Oval

© Nation Newspapers

Dec 8, 2006

Alec Stewart pulls on the front foot

© AFP

View the full index of related photos »