21 Facts About Alec Stewart

1.

Alec James Stewart was born on 8 April 1963 and is an English former cricketer, and former captain of the England cricket team, who played Test cricket and One Day Internationals as a right-handed wicket-keeper-batsman.

2.

Alec Stewart is the fourth-most-capped English cricketer ever in Test matches and third-most-capped in One Day Internationals, having played in 133 Tests and 170 ODIs.

3.

An attacking batsman in tests against the new ball, Stewart is regarded as one of England's greatest openers.

4.

The younger son of former English Test cricketer Micky Alec Stewart, Alec Stewart was educated at Coombe Hill Infants' School, Coombe Hill Junior School and Tiffin School in Kingston upon Thames.

5.

Alec Stewart made his debut for Surrey in 1981, earning a reputation as an aggressive opening batsman and occasional wicketkeeper.

6.

Alec Stewart is a well-known supporter of Surrey County Cricket Club and Chelsea FC When shirt numbers were introduced for One Day International cricket, Alec Stewart chose the number 4 shirt in honour of his favourite Chelsea player when growing up, John Hollins, and kept that shirt number throughout his career.

7.

At the start of his career, Alec Stewart was a specialist opening batsman for England, with wicketkeeping duties being retained by Jack Russell, who was generally recognised as the superior gloveman and who batted down the order.

8.

However, when played as a specialist batsman in Test cricket, Alec Stewart averaged 46.90 in 51 games with 9 centuries.

9.

Alec Stewart was unlucky enough to be on the losing side in a record 54 Test Matches.

10.

Alec Stewart holds the record for scoring most test runs without a career double century in test history.

11.

Alec Stewart was groomed for the England captaincy under Graham Gooch, deputising for him in four tests in India and Sri Lanka in 1993, but when Gooch retired from the captaincy later that year Mike Atherton was chosen to succeed him.

12.

Alec Stewart was asked to captain England in 1998 when Mike Atherton resigned.

13.

Alec Stewart continued to deputise occasionally as captain of England's one-day side, and became the second international captain to concede a match in 2001, after a pitch invasion during a One Day International against Pakistan rendered the continuation of play impossible.

14.

Alec Stewart continued as an England player for five more seasons, and became only the fourth player to score a century in his 100th Test, scoring 105 against the West Indies at Old Trafford in 2000.

15.

Alec Stewart set a record for playing the most number of ODI matches as a captain who has kept wicket and opened the batting.

16.

In 2004, Alec Stewart became a founding director of Arundel Promotions with specific responsibility for player management and representation.

17.

In 2009, Alec Stewart rejoined Surrey as a part-time consultant to the coaching staff specialising in batting, wicket keeping and mentoring.

18.

Since retiring from playing Alec Stewart has taken on the role as the Club Ambassador for Surrey County Cricket Club and was made an executive director in 2011.

19.

On 17 June 2013, it was announced by Surrey County Cricket Club that Alec Stewart would take charge of first team affairs following the sacking of Chris Adams, until a long term successor was found.

20.

In October 2013 the club announced that Graham Ford would become head coach in February 2014, with Alec Stewart becoming Director of Cricket, a new position.

21.

Alec Stewart was the subject of This Is Your Life in 2003 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel while playing golf at the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom.