Editing Alec Stewart

{{short description|English cricketer}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = Alec Stewart
|    honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
|               image = AlecStewart.jpg
|             country = England
|            fullname = Alec James Stewart
|              height = 5 ft 10 in
|          birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|4|8|df=yes}}
|         birth_place = [[Merton Park]], England
|             batting = Right-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm [[Medium pace bowling|medium]]
|                role = [[Wicket-keeper-batsman]]
|              family = [[Micky Stewart]] (father)
|            nickname = The Gaffer
|       international = true
|   internationalspan = 1989–2003
|       testdebutdate = 24 February
|       testdebutyear = 1990
|    testdebutagainst = West Indies
|             testcap = 543
|        lasttestdate = 8 September
|        lasttestyear = 2003
|     lasttestagainst = South Africa
|        odidebutdate = 15 October
|        odidebutyear = 1989
|     odidebutagainst = Sri Lanka
|              odicap = 104
|         lastodidate = 2 March
|         lastodiyear = 2003
|      lastodiagainst = Australia
|            odishirt = 4
|               club1 = [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]
|               year1 = 1981–2003
|             columns = 4
|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 133
|               runs1 = 8,463
|            bat avg1 = 39.54
|           100s/50s1 = 15/45
|          top score1 = 190
|         deliveries1 = 20
|            wickets1 = 0
|           bowl avg1 = –
|            fivefor1 = –
|             tenfor1 = –
|       best bowling1 = –
|  catches/stumpings1 = 263/14
|             column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|            matches2 = 170
|               runs2 = 4,677
|            bat avg2 = 31.60
|           100s/50s2 = 4/28
|          top score2 = 116
|         deliveries2 = 0
|            wickets2 = –
|           bowl avg2 = –
|            fivefor2 = –
|             tenfor2 = –
|       best bowling2 = –
|  catches/stumpings2 = 159/15
|             column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches3 = 447
|               runs3 = 26,165
|            bat avg3 = 40.06
|           100s/50s3 = 48/148
|          top score3 = 271[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries3 = 502
|            wickets3 = 3
|           bowl avg3 = 148.66
|            fivefor3 = 0
|             tenfor3 = 0
|       best bowling3 = 1/7
|  catches/stumpings3 = 721/32
|             column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches4 = 504
|               runs4 = 14,771
|            bat avg4 = 35.08
|           100s/50s4 = 19/94
|          top score4 = 167[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries4 = 4
|            wickets4 = 0
|           bowl avg4 = –
|            fivefor4 = –
|             tenfor4 = –
|       best bowling4 = –
|  catches/stumpings4 = 442/48
| medaltemplates =  <!-- Mention Host Names for Team Sports-->
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{cr|ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Cricket World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1992 Cricket World Cup|1992 Australia and New Zealand]]|}}
|                date = 14 October
|                year = 2007
|              source = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/ENG/S/STEWART_AJ_01001953/ Cricinfo
}}
'''Alec James Stewart''' {{post-nominals|OBE}} (born 8 April 1963) is an English former cricketer, and former captain of the [[England cricket team]], who played [[Test cricket]] and [[One Day International]]s as a right-handed [[wicket-keeper-batsman]]. He is the fifth-most-[[Cap (sport)|capped]] English cricketer ever in [[Test cricket|Test matches]]<ref>{{citation|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/individual/most_matches_career.html?class=1;id=1;type=team |title=Records/England/Test Matches/Most Matches |publisher=stats.espncricinfo.com }} Retrieved on 3 September 2011</ref> and third-most-capped in [[One Day International]]s (ODIs), having played in 133 Tests and 170 ODIs. An attacking batsman in tests against the new ball, Stewart is regarded as one of England's greatest openers. Pakistani fast bowler [[Wasim Akram]] considers him one of the most difficult batsmen he ever bowled to.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not applicable--> |date=1 September 2003 |title=Alec Stewart: 133 and out |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/sep/02/cricket |website=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> He was a part of the English squad which finished as [[1992 Cricket World Cup final|runners-up]] at the [[1992 Cricket World Cup]].

==Domestic career==
The younger son of former English Test cricketer [[Micky Stewart]], Stewart was educated at Coombe Hill Infants' School, Coombe Hill Junior School and [[Tiffin School]] in [[Kingston upon Thames]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Alec+was+aggressive+-+He%27d+even+sledge+the+teachers+Says+the+England...-a060650568|title=Alec was aggressive - He'd even sledge the teachers, says the England captain's Games Master!|work=[[Sunday Mirror]]|first=Steve|last=Whiting|date=24 May 1998|access-date=19 August 2023|via=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref> He made his debut for [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] in 1981, earning a reputation as an aggressive opening batsman and occasional wicketkeeper.

Stewart is a well-known supporter of [[Surrey County Cricket Club]] and [[Chelsea Football Club]]. When shirt numbers were introduced for One Day International cricket, Stewart chose the number 4 shirt in honour of his favourite Chelsea player when growing up, [[John Hollins]],<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=25 July 2023 |title=Life of John Hollins commemorated in heart of Chelsea |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/life-of-john-hollins-commemorated-in-heart-of-chelsea |website=[[Chelsea Football Club]] |location=London |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> and kept that shirt number throughout his career.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

==International career==
Stewart made his England debut in the first Test of the 1989/90 tour of the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]], along with [[Nasser Hussain]], who would eventually replace him as England captain.

At the start of his career, Stewart was a specialist opening batsman for England, with wicketkeeping duties being retained by [[Jack Russell (cricketer and artist)|Jack Russell]], who was generally recognised as the superior gloveman and who batted down the order. However, Russell, the inferior batsman, would often be dropped to improve the balance of the side (i.e. to accommodate an extra bowler or batsman), in which case Stewart would don the gloves. After enduring years of selection and deselection, Russell retired from international cricket in 1998, leaving Stewart unrivalled as England's keeper-batsman until his own retirement in 2003.
[[Image:Alec Stewart Graph.png|right|thumb|250px|Alec Stewart's career performance graph.]]

===Prominence===
His highest Test score, 190, was against [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] in the drawn first [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]] Test on 4 June 1992; it was his fourth century in five Tests. In 1994 at the [[Kensington Oval]] he became only the seventh Englishman to score centuries in both innings of a Test match, scoring 118 and 143 as the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] were beaten at their [[Kensington Oval|Bridgetown]] "fortress" for the first time since 1935.<ref>[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153212.html Wisden: West Indies v England, 1993–94]</ref>

Stewart's batting average (39.54) is the lowest of any player to have scored 8000 or more runs in Test cricket: he is the only player to have scored over 8000 runs despite an average of under 40.<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=runs;qualmin3=8000;qualval3=runs;template=results;type=batting Cricinfo statsguru: batsmen who scored 8000 Test runs or more]</ref> However, when played as a specialist batsman in Test cricket, Stewart averaged 46.90 in 51 games with 9 centuries. Since [[World War II]], only [[Len Hutton]], [[Geoff Boycott]], [[Dennis Amiss]] and [[Alastair Cook]] have bettered Stewart's average of 46 as a specialist opening batsman for England.<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?batting_positionmax1=2;batting_positionval1=batting_position;class=1;filter=advanced;keeper=0;orderby=batting_average;qualmin1=30;qualval1=innings;spanmin2=1+jan+1945;spanval2=span;team=1;template=results;type=batting Cricinfo statsguru: openers by batting average since 1945]</ref> As wicketkeeper-batsman he averaged 34.92 from 82 tests, higher than many of his contemporaries. He was unlucky enough to be on the losing side in a record 54 Test Matches.

Stewart holds the record for scoring the most test runs without a career double century in test history (8463).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Batting/BattingMostCareerRunsWO100.asp?Stat=2|title=HowSTAT! Test Cricket – Most Career Runs without a Double Century|website=howstat.com|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref>

===Captaincy===
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. Stewart was asked to captain England in 1998 when Mike Atherton resigned. Despite being the age of 35 at the time, Stewart's level of fitness was impeccable, especially bearing in mind that most players do not continue beyond 37. As it was Stewart went on to play for England beyond his 40th birthday – but as events were to transpire, his captaincy of England barely lasted 12 months.

In his first series as captain, against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]], Stewart scored an outstanding 164 in the third Test at [[Old Trafford (cricket)|Old Trafford]] to salvage a draw, a result which eventually enabled England to overturn a 1–0 deficit to win the series 2–1. Nonetheless, failures against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] and in the [[1999 Cricket World Cup]] saw him sacked from the captaincy to be replaced by Hussain. During his captaincy, he dropped down the order and did not open the batting. He 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 national cricket team|Pakistan]] rendered the continuation of play impossible.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/103301.html Stewart concedes defeat after another pitch invasion]</ref> He 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 cricket team|West Indies]] at [[Old Trafford (cricket)|Old Trafford]] in 2000.

Stewart also set a record for playing the most number of ODI matches(28) as a captain who has kept wicket and opened the batting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283397.html|title=Records {{!}} One-Day Internationals {{!}} Individual records (captains, players, umpires) {{!}} Captains who have kept wicket and opened the batting {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2017-02-17}}</ref>

==After cricket==
In 2004, Stewart became a founding director of Arundel Promotions with specific responsibility for player management and representation. Cricket playing clients include [[Paul Collingwood]], [[Ian Bell]], [[Ashley Giles]] and [[Matt Prior]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.athletes1.co.uk/content/169/index.html |title=Essentially Group - Sports marketing, sports media, sports management, athlete managementEssentially acquires Arundel Promotions Limited |access-date=2009-02-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107035904/http://www.athletes1.co.uk/content/169/index.html |archive-date=7 January 2009 }}</ref>

In 2009, Stewart rejoined Surrey as a part-time consultant to the coaching staff specialising in batting, wicket keeping and mentoring.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.surreycricket.com/news/alec-stewart-returns-to-surrey-dressing-room,6338,NS.html |title=Alec Stewart Returns to Surrey Dressing Room |access-date=20 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414033400/http://www.surreycricket.com/news/alec-stewart-returns-to-surrey-dressing-room,6338,NS.html |archive-date=14 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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

On 17 June 2013, it was announced by [[Surrey County Cricket Club]] that Stewart would take charge of first team affairs following the sacking of [[Chris Adams (cricketer)|Chris Adams]], until a long term successor was found. In October 2013 the club announced that [[Graham Ford]] would become head coach in February 2014, with Stewart becoming Director of Cricket, a new position.<ref>[http://www.kiaoval.com/graham-ford-appointed-head-coach/?dm_i=1AEV,1WW5B,6Q37UZ,6V881,0 "Graham Ford Appointed Head Coach"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019101953/http://www.kiaoval.com/graham-ford-appointed-head-coach/?dm_i=1AEV,1WW5B,6Q37UZ,6V881,0 |date=19 October 2013 }} Retrieved 18 October 2013</ref> In March 2024, he announced that he would be stepping down from this role at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=21 March 2024 |title=Alec Stewart announces decision to step down from role at Surrey |url=https://www.kiaoval.com/alec-stewart-announces-decision-to-step-down-from-role-at-surrey/ |website=Surrey County Cricket Club |location=London |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> In October 2024 it was announced that Stewart would remain at the club as a part-time high-performance cricket advisor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c4g5pzdnv27o|title=Stewart to take new part-time role at Surrey|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=3 October 2024}}</ref>

He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 2003 when he was surprised by [[Michael Aspel]] while playing golf at the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

==Honours==
* One of five ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Wisden]]'' [[Wisden Cricketer of the Year|Cricketers of the Year]] 1993
* Appointed an MBE on 13 June 1998
* Appointed an OBE on 14 June 2003
* Highest Test run scorer in the world during the 1990s
* As a mark of his achievements Surrey County Cricket Club have named the gates at the Vauxhall End after him: the Alec Stewart Gates

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050421152647/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Slideshow/slideshowContentFrameFrag.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2Fgallery%2Fcricket%2Ficc%2FalecXI%2Fualec.xml Alec Stewart's Greatest One-Day XI]
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=20372}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box |
 before=[[Graham Gooch]]<br>[[Mike Atherton]] |
 title=[[English national cricket captains|English national cricket captain]] |
 years=(deputised 1993)<br>1998–1999|
 after=[[Graham Gooch]]<br>[[Nasser Hussain]] |
}}
{{succession box |
 before=[[Ian Greig]] |
 title=[[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey captain]] |
 years=1992–1997|
 after=[[Adam Hollioake]] |
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Captaincy
|bg= skyblue
|fg= #000060
|bordercolor=#000060
|list1=
{{England Test cricket captains}}
{{England ODI cricket captains}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Awards and Achievements
|bg= skyblue
|fg= #000060
|bordercolor=#000060
|list1=
{{Englishmen with 100 or more Test caps}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= England squads
|bg= skyblue
|fg= #000060
|bordercolor=#000060
|list1=
{{England 1992 Cricket World Cup squad}}
{{England 1996 Cricket World Cup squad}}
{{England 1999 Cricket World Cup squad}}
{{England 2003 Cricket World Cup squad}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Alec}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Directors of Cricket]]
[[Category:English cricket coaches]]
[[Category:English cricketers]]
[[Category:England One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:England Test cricketers]]
[[Category:English cricketers of 1969 to 2000]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]
[[Category:England Test cricket captains]]
[[Category:Surrey cricket captains]]
[[Category:Surrey cricketers]]
[[Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1992 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1996 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1999 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 2003 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Tiffin School]]
[[Category:People from Merton Park]]
[[Category:Cricketers from the London Borough of Merton]]
[[Category:Wicket-keepers]]