Former captain of the England cricket team, Alec Stewart is the third most capped English cricketer of all time both in Test matches and ODIs. A steady, studious, establishment figure, Stewart was rewarded with the England captaincy in 1998 - he was 35 at the time.
In line with his values and impeccable commitment to peak physical and mental fitness, Stewart continued playing until the age of 40 before retiring from the playing side to work in the media. He also joined Surrey CCC as an Executive Director, after spending his entire playing career at the club.
He played for Surrey for 22 years, becoming one of the most feared batsman domestically, before spending the final 14 years of his time with Surrey as an essential part of the England national side. In his prime, Stewart was difficult for the bowl attacks to break down. He was an instinctive player capable of cover drives that could take the breath away. And he did so In 2000 when he capped his 100th Test appearance with a century against the West Indies at Old Trafford - prompting a standing ovation that lasted a lifetime. This was one of 15 Test centuries that Stewarts scored.
A passionate leader, Stewart earned the nickname - The Gaffer. He led England to their first major win in 12 years when England beat South Africa in 2000, soon after he took over. Stewart had the unusual honour to open the batting, keep wicket and captain the national side, something rarely seen in cricket.
An impressive batsman, Alec Stewart, recorded 8463 Test runs, receiving an impressive batting average of 39.54 in his 133 career Test matches. In that time he hit 1121 fours and 10 sixes. His record as a wicketkeeper was also important to England as he took 263 catches throughout his Test career. In the ODI format, he also had significant success, as he managed a batting average of 31.60 in 170 matches, as well as 159 catches taken.
Today, the charming after dinner cricket speaker is able to inspire teams with tales from the top of the game. His entertaining examination of the game and his experiences in it are a joy to behold.
