Happy Birthday Alec Stewart

57th Birthday of Alec Stewart

Alec Stewart, has been an epitome of success but also the term, here I personally needed to mention is "Late Success". On April 8, 1963, at Briston Park, Alec Stewart was born to another English Surrey Cricketer Mickey Stewart who played for just few years of International Cricket. He was recognised as an aggressive opening during his domestic cricket in the year 1981. But he made his International cricket at almost the age of 27. In the year 1989, he made his ODI Debut, while he made his Test debut in the year 1990. If he had been playing around a 5 to 6 years before, he would've been in the list of highest run getters. But, during 1990s, he has been one of the greatest Batsman England Cricket Board has ever produced. Fourth most capped English cricket in Test matches (playing 133 test matches, scored 8,463 runs with an average of 40 and scored 45 fifties and 15 hundreds with an highest score of 190), while third most capped English Batsman in ODIs (playing 133 ODIs, with scoring 4,677 runs at an average of 31.60 with 4 hundreds and 28 fifties). 

But even though his entry has been little late, he has been phenomenal in cricketing journey. A 5.10 feet tall, right handed batsman, who played as an opener and also kept wickets for England Cricket Team. He takes leg stump guard, and his batting stance shows all the three stumps completely. He has a high backlight, with using much of backfoot. He is a great batsman in cover direction. Only few players are skilled enough to master shots in Off Side, and he belongs to one such category. He is also a great attacking who don't allow bowlers to settle, and also a great hitter of the new ball. He shuffles to his off side and plays off side shots frequently. Also, he is a great hooker and plays Natraja Shot perfectly by covering the Off stump. Particularly, even though his legs move and shuffle across, his head and body is stable. He was so consistent, particularly in Test Cricket. He played cricket for England for 13 years, and retired after his 40th Birthday, breaking the myth of players can't play after turning 37. He was also the first one to prove that age is just a number, as during his mid 30s, he was so energetic and perfectly fit, where in the era of 90s cricketers, most of them don't care about fitness. He was listed in One of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year, 1993, for his magnificent performances against the deadly pace bowlers of Pakistan, West Indies. During his 100th Test match, he scored a century against West Indies, and the 170 against Pakistan, remains some of the best performances of him. The greatest pace bowler, Wasim Akram, in his interview, described "Alec Stewart, as one of the batsman toughest to bowl on, and he waited for the ball to get old and reverse swing as he is dangerous batsman in new ball".

The kids of 80s and 90s, would have known his skills and this man's greatness in his career. But he is calm, and humble in his approach but equally aggressive in his hitting. He had also captained English Cricket Team for few matches, but failures in 1999 World Cup, sacked him as captain. But still he holds the record for captaining and kept wickets for most matches for England(28).Also during the period of 1990s, he is the highest test run scores, scoring around 6000 runs at an average of 45. But, many had forget him in the recent years. One of the greatest but became underrated in the forthcoming years after his reitrement, but even though post retirement, he manages Surrey Cricket Club for nearly 10 years.