So, Alec Stewart has - finally - been exonerated by Paul Condon's corruption investigation, for want of any real evidence against him; an unsurprising, indeed inevitable, outcome given the unwillingness of Indian bookmaker MK Gupta to come forward. Of course, it could well be argued that Stewart's ... Read review
Advantages: Scores very fast, keeping has improved, fitness Disadvantages: Poor captaincy, tries to take on too much at once
So, Alec Stewart has - finally - been exonerated by Paul Condon's corruption investigation, for want of any real evidence against him; an unsurprising, indeed inevitable, outcome given the unwillingness of Indian bookmaker MK Gupta to come forward. Of course, it could well be argued that Stewart's less than co-operative attitude toward Lord Condon's team leaves the player with only himself to blame for the interminable slowness of proceedings. But ... ...Most judges would concede that Alec Stewart has not been the best wicket-keeper in England for much, perhaps all, of his Test career - Jack Russell probably holds that distinction. Yet such has been the desire, almost the obsession, from the ECB (and the TCCB before it) for an all-rounder that his place has rarely been in any real doubt. After all, the ideal side would consist of six batsmen, three seamers, two spinners and a keeper. Total twelve ... more
So, Alec Stewart has - finally - been exonerated by Paul Condon's corruption investigation, for want of any real evidence against him; an unsurprising, indeed inevitable, outcome given the unwillingness of Indian bookmaker MK Gupta to come forward. Of course, it could well be argued that Stewart's less than co-operative attitude toward Lord Condon's team leaves the player with only himself to blame for the interminable slowness of proceedings. But let us emerge from such murky waters, and concern ourselves with Stewart's performances on the pitch.
Most judges would concede that Alec Stewart has not been the best wicket-keeper in England for much, perhaps all, of his Test career - Jack Russell probably holds that distinction. Yet such has been the desire, almost the obsession, from the ECB (and the TCCB before it) for an all-rounder that his place has rarely been in any real doubt. After all, the ideal side would consist of six batsmen, three seamers, two spinners and a keeper. Total twelve - something has to give, and if a player is available who can both keep and open to Test standard... why, what else is there to do?
The problem, of course, is that Stewart *can't* do this. He is an exciting, attacking batsman and worth his place in the side on this criterion alone. It's also true that his ability behind the stumps has come on in leaps and bounds since he first donned the gloves full-time. But there's no getting away from the fact that his batting average is markedly lower when he has the additional burden of keeping wicket - in Tests the figure to date is a decidedly mediocre 33.33, as against a world-class 46.70 when he plays as a batsman alone.
It would now appear that his captaincy skills have deserted him also. I've never been particularly enamoured of his leadership of the side, but his most recent stint, although forced upon him by circumstance, was - to be generous - a disaster. The Second Test against Pakistan summed up all that was worst about his attitude to the role of England's skipper. The target that was set - 370 in around eight hours - was a demanding one, to be sure, but that's no excuse for not trying. At the start of the last day, England were 85/0, and an unlikely victory charge looked on. England might well have lost, but there would have been no shame in that. Instead, Stewart unaccountably began playing for a draw - a tactic that nine times out of ten results in defeat. Pakistan saw their chance, and took it. England had the worst of both worlds - a heavy defeat, without the compensation of going down all guns blazing.
I have no doubt that the demoralising effects of this loss played a major part in England's humiliation in the subsequent one-day series. All the confidence and pride built up by Nasser Hussain (and, of course, Duncan Fletcher) in the course of four increasingly impressive series victories had been wasted in the course of a few days. Alec Stewart's leadership had been laid bare as unimaginative and defensive - and, to put it bluntly, defeatist.
Turning aside from the captaincy, the main other bone of contention regarding Stewart must be his age - he is now 38 - and the slowly dawning realisation amongst the selectors (if not the public, many of whom have been trying to get this point across for some considerable time) that the day cannot be far off when he retires from international cricket. And that, of course, will mean finding a new wicket-keeper - but from where? Jack Russell is only four months younger, and in any case could hardly stomach the conformity demanded by today's setup. Chris Read was peremptorily discarded after a handful of appearances - one dreadful misjudgement whilst batting, when he ducked into a straight one, seemingly having done for him. Paul Nixon? A fine keeper, to be sure, but it speaks volumes that a man the wrong side of 30 should be regarded as a "youngster". Besides, he seems destined to join the likes of Owais Shah and Alex Tudor in the serried ranks of cricket's invisible men.
While he is still playing, though, Stewart must drop down the order - perhaps as far as number six - and concentrate on that which he does best - smiting the hard new ball to all corners of the ground. (This does, of course, assume the ability of our top order to survive 80 overs, but hey, Marcus Trescothick is already accustomed to the weight of England on his shoulders....) He should also continue to keep wicket, at least in Test matches, though experiments should be made with others in certain one-day games.
This article has probably come across as rather anti-Stewart, but that's not really the case. I think that, even now at 38, he remains as asset to the England team, and that he can serve it well as a hard-hitting middle-order batsman in the mould of Allan Lamb. At his best, he can hit almost any bowler out of an attack, and his wicket-keeping, if not the best around, is perfectly adequate. One thing I am convinced of, however: from now on, his position must be that of a senior pro and no more. Alec Stewart must never captain England again.
Advantages: Best attacking batsman in the England team Disadvantages: Wicketkeeping duties affects his batting
...as Peter May, Ken Barrington, Alec Bedser, Jim Laker, Tony Lock, Peter Loader etc.
Mickey Stewart later became cricket manager for Surrey and subsequently for England. His crowning achievement was being in charge of the victorious Ashes winning team Down Under in 1986/7.
I know nothing of Alec Stewart’s county career for Surrey before he was drafted into the test team. He made his debut for England in 1989 or 1990.
One of my first recollections ... ...show any fighting spirit.
Alec started to show promise in the away series against the West Indies in 1990. England won the first test only to lose the series 2-1. The final test will always be remembered for the scuffle between Viv Richards and an English journalist. The England player most visibly affected by the final test defeat was Alec. This showed his patriotism.
But Alec got his revenge over the West Indies at home in 1991. Up to this point ...
mrpaella 23.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Alec Stewart
Advantages: A top class allrounder, can be relied on Disadvantages: He won't be around for ever...and he plays on a hell of a lot
This guy is unbelievable. No matter how old he is, he can definitely run faster than most of the other batsmen, he never shows signs of tiring, and puts in consistently good effort producing consistently good performances. No other batter in the country is in better form at the moment: his last five scores in all competitions read 74*, 101, 100*, 97 and 49. It is hard to see how he still has his critics - it's not as if he makes any mistakes behind ... ...the first name on the teamsheet for England in one-day and test matches.
This good form must continue into the test series if England are going to win, as no one else is as capable of taking the attack to Walsh and Ambrose (if they play), or encourages as much in the field.
The only possible weak links in his game are the ability to play a late cut shot on to his stumps every time, and the fact that almost every innings he gets out softly by edging ...
Pillsbury 26.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Alec Stewart
Advantages: Obvious talent Disadvantages: He always loks like getting out
There is no doubting that Alec Stewart was one of Englands great
plyers of the 1990's. Not only did he score more test runs during the
90's than any other player in the world, he also took on the roles of
wicketkeeper and capatain at different times. Any player avergaing
above 40 whislt playing in a team as bad as england derserves
emmense amounts of credit.
Whilst Stewart remains suitably competent to keep wicket at test
level, in recent ... ...he still has a full array of shots, and he remains one of eng;land's
most atacking layers who is prepared to dominate bowlers.
However, his major fault is in leaving balls outside his off stump,
which Stewart seems in capable of coming to terms with. It seems
recently that Stewart is constantly dissmissed, either caught in the
slips, or playing on, with his bad wide outside off stump, and well
away from his body. More importantly, these are ...
mintboy 22.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Alec Stewart
...year, it amazes me that Alec Stewart was dragged into the match fixing scandal. If there were EVER one person that I would never have thought would be capable of match irregularities then it would be Alec Stewart. He seems such an honest player. From, the press conference he gave following the accusations, he seemed so shocked.
But, I can’t help but feel that Hansie Cronje was such a honest player, he was a captain, a well respected person, ... ...TRUST?
Their should have been an enquiry if I were Alec Stewert I would have asked for one, and asked why his name was dragged in the mud. You can’t accuse a player and leave it at that, it simply is not fair. Surely something needs to be done. ...
WAD1-2-3 03.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Alec Stewart
Advantages: In great form Disadvantages: Getting on a bit
Alec Stewart has shown that he is one of England's most valuable players with his recent batting displays in the Natwest series. We must all hope that he can take this form into the remaining tests this summer. With Stewart taking the wicketkeeper batsman role, there is scope for England to play a balanced side, including a spinner. It is a shame that he is getting a little old, as we could do with him sticking around for a lot longer than his age ...
northers 25.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Alec Stewart
Skill
Potential
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With exception of Vaughan who looks like he may make the grade not much seems to have changed in the England camp. Atherton and Stewart have made the runs, Hick has done well against a lesser side (Zimbabwe), Ramprakash and Knight have given their everything but not suceeded and the latest great hope (Flintoff) has not looked test quality. Lets just be thankful for the introduction this summer of new talent like Graham Thorpe and Dominic Cork and be happy AlecStewart is English. Is he the best all rounder in the world even at the age of 37?! ...
bsqfy 25.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of England
Advantages: wonderful to watch Disadvantages: nagging doubt it will go wrong
I have just finished watching the final session of the 2nd day of the test against the Windies. What a suberp performance by both batsmen with alecstewart taking the majority of the strike and putting the bowlers to the sword, some of his stroke play was truly magnificent humbling even curtley ambrose which is no mean feat.The session looked more like oneday cricket than test cricket with an average scoring rate of over 4 an over helping Stewart to reach a landmark 100 in his 100th test match joining 3 other players to have acheived this . Whislt at the other end trescothick in his first testwas playing steadily to take advantage of some early luck and help england set several new records for scoring including highest partnership of any type against the windies on the ground beating the previous best set in 1950.
More of the same ...
elrathia 04.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of England
Advantages: Good main squad of 16 players Disadvantages: Might be stuck without a spinner soon, still playing division 2 1dayers
Current county champions Surrey, who would bet against them winning it again. They have a team that excites with Ali Brown and Ian Ward providing the fireworks then batsmen like AlecStewart, Graham Thorpe, Mark Butcher and the Hollioake brothers behind them. Martin Bicknell (how has he only managed a few appearances for England) and Alex Tudor lead the bowling attack backed up by Saqlain Mushtaq and Ian Salisbury. Plus there is youth comming through like Tim Murtagh and Kevin Barrett.
When you go and watch the Surrye Lions there is a little something else though, there are plenty of attractions for the kids, face paintings, demonstrations, meet the stars and more, and a relaxed atmosphere for the grown-ups to enjoy what they are there for. ...
lovebite 11.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Surrey
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