Profile:
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 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. He was an automatic choice for his fourth
tour of Australia, and current indications are that when his
international career does end, it will be at a moment of his own
choosing.
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. Stewart was
awarded the MBE in 1998, and a Testimonial by Surrey for the 2003
season.
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