Profile: Alec Stewart

Alec Stewart is England’s most-capped Test cricketer and second only to Paul Collingwood in the number of ODI caps. He made 133 Test match appearances and 170 ODI appearances in his 14-year international career.

A Surrey stalwart for over 20 years, he was a new addition to MCC’s Committee in 2007 after a poll of its 18,000 members elected him to the three-year post.

Stewart made his Surrey debut in 1981 as an opening batsmen and occasional wicket-keeper. As his career progressed, his wicket-keeping duties increased and he finished his Test career having kept wicket in 82 of his 133 matches.

Stewart’s two greatest moments with the bat came against the West Indies. In 1994 he became just the seventh English batsmen to score two centuries in a match when he hit 118 and 143 at the Kensington Oval, and in 2000 at Old Trafford, became only the fourth player to score a century in his 100th Test.

Stewart was vice-captain for the majority of Mike Atherton’s time in charge of the England team, finally succeeding him in 1998. He promptly led England to a momentous win against South Africa, their first in a major series for 12 years.

During his time in charge he made history as the first man to simultaneously captain, keep wicket and open the batting for a side in Test cricket. However after an Ashes loss and poor World Cup on home soil, Stewart lost the captaincy to the man he had made his Test debut with in 1989 – Nasser Hussain.

To honour him in his last Test at Lord’s in 2003, MCC placed Stewart’s portrait in the Long Room, an honour last afforded to W.G. Grace.

Since his retirement Stewart has taken on an ambassadorial role at Surrey, supporting the development of cricket in the county. He joined the county’s management team in 2009 as a part-time coaching consultant.

Stewart, who was awarded an MBE in 1998 and an OBE in 2003, works as an analyst for Sky Sports and the BBC and is also an ambassador for Clydesdale Bank.