News about Alec Stewart

NASSER HUSSAIN: I don't know anyone who loves playing fast bowling. It's just a case of getting better at reacting to it and ultimately trying to get through it. Mark Wood broke Kevin Sinclair's arm in the West Indies series with a 92mph bumper and he went one better with a 93mph bouncer to get rid of Kusal Mendis on Wednesday. Our Sky cameras worked out that it took just 0.46 seconds from leaving Wood's hand to reaching the bat. That's ridiculously quick but you have to believe in your reactions.

NASSER HUSSAIN: Pope has to be himself, lead from the front with runs, and remember that difficult decisions may have to come before friendship. And he needs to keep the Bazball show on the road. Above all, he needs to show Sri Lanka the respect they deserve, and win the series. This is the chance of a lifetime. By the end of it, England should have a better idea of what will happen if Stokes tweaks a hammy on the first morning of the Ashes at a packed Brisbane.

LAWRENCE BOOTH: Graham Thorpe, who has died - at the age of 55 - established himself during a memorable 100-Test career spanning the millennium as the outstanding England batsman of his generation. If Mike Atherton excelled in defence, and Alec Stewart was flamboyant in attack, Thorpe - once hailed by his team-mate and close friend Nasser Hussain as a 'little genius' - had it all: technique and ticker, plus a sharp cricketing brain and chameleon-like adaptability. Whether scoring a hundred against Australia's quicks at the WACA or defying Muttiah Muralitharan on a Colombo turner, he was England's man for all seasons. At times, it seemed only an intense nature and occasionally troubled private life could stand in his way.

England were pegged back by a resurgent West Indies as the hosts ended day one on 38-3 after a fascinating opening day at Edgbaston. Ben Stokes' side had seized the advantage when bowling the tourists out for 282 on a friendly pitch. But two wickets in two balls, including those of openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, helped West Indies fight back and set up an intriguing second day.

NASSER HUSSAIN - FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN: Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope showed during their 94-run partnership for the second wicket on Wednesday that there's no right or wrong way when it comes to Test batting. Crawley is a product of the Rob Key school of coaching, someone who was not a massive fan of trigger movements, believing more in the see-ball, hit-ball method. In contrast, Ollie Pope developed at Surrey under Alec Stewart, who had massive triggers when he was an England player.

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY PAUL NEWMAN Alec Stewart gives a look inside BY PAUL's hard-earned reputation as Surrey's best-linching professional while commenting on his decision to walk out of the gates that bear his name at the Oval for the last time as Surrey's director of cricket. I can be seen as unemotional and perhaps even cold, but telling the players that I was stepping down was difficult,' a man synonymous with Surrey says. 'I care for those players, and being in front of them wasn't easy.' Now that I've made a decision, I'm pretty good at moving forward, and I know I'll continue to walk through those gates whether it's as a helper or whatever comes next.'

Alec Stewart, the Surrey cricket director, will step down after 11 years as Surrey's director of cricket. During his current spell at the club he has competed with distinction on and off the field, the England legend, 60, will leave the Oval at the end of the year to spend more time with his family in the hopes of adding more silverware to the three Championship titles won this summer. Surrey have also had a stellar track of producing England players under Stewart, who has seen nine players emerge through the club's pathway to full international recognition, including Ollie Pope, Sam Curran, and Will Jacks.

When England plucked spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir from the fringes of the county game for the Test squad traveling India, eyebrows were raised. Mail Sport takes a look at some of England's unexpected picks from the past.

INTERVIEW BY PAUL NEWMAN: Gus Atkinson was always convinced that Surrey would want to join their illustrious list of England internationals. To convince the fast bowler himself, it took time, as well as overcoming a few significant challenges along the way. Atkinson came out of nowhere at the start of last season to help Surrey's bid for another County Championship title before navigating England with the priceless commodity of genuine speed.

Surrey's Alec Stewart won another Championship title on Thursday, but the family was given a reminder of how far they must go to beat the top of all county sides. Essex bowled out for 211 by Northants in their forlorn pursuit of the one-sided championship run to a final day in the second consecutive title match in the last six years and 21st in all for Surrey. In truth, it has been all but decided since Essex was defeated by Hampshire last week, with Surrey not having to be anywhere near their best at the Age of Bowl against the same opponents until yesterday, with Will Jacks in the middle of a debate.

It's surprising that England's top wicket-taker in the format has yet to win a T20 Blast event in a 16-year career. Surrey's seventh Finals Day could all be about to change today. It is perhaps an even bigger surprise that Surrey has never won the inaugural version of the tournament since 2003.

When Australia toured England in 2001, they won the first Test at Edgbaston by an innings and 118 runs and swagger of hard men relishing the prospect of a match they were certain to win.

When asked whether 'Bazball' is going to revolutionize the County Championship, Lancashire's new captain Keaton Jennings makes a metaphorical and perhaps literal case for the defense. Although Ben Stokes has made it abundantly clear that he wants counties to follow his swashbuckling example and promote the ultra-attacking cricket that has changed England's Test side since he took over as captain at the start of last summer.

Matt Dunn, England's cricketer, is mourning the death of his two-year-old daughter Florence, who died from a serious form of epilepsy. Since the Surrey bowler announced the news in a message on his Instagram story on Wednesday, tributes have been paid to Dunn and his family. Dunn vowed to remain'forever' in his heart, posting a snapshot of his daughter.

BUMBLE ON THE TEST: Harry Brook has scored twice as many sixes in Test cricket as David Gower and Alec Stewart (10 apiece) and has only been playing for fewer than six months. Incredible! When you bring a young player into Test cricket, you have to be patient, but Brook is the direct opposite of Zak Crawley. One can't run; the other is a natural performer.

Tom Curran, a Surrey all-rounder, is taking a long break from red-ball cricket to concentrate on his physical and mental wellbeing. Curran, a two-day international for England, has been playing for the Desert Vipers in the ILT20 and will soon be joining Islamabad United in the Pakistani Super League. In recent years, the 27-year-old has suffered with injury problems.

Alec Stewart has postponed his service as Surrey's director of cricket partially due to family reasons. Lynn has been fighting cancer since 2013, and Alec has decided to take a couple of weeks off from his day-to-day duties to care for his wife and family at a difficult time.' Stewart, 59, will be replaced at the Kia Oval by Surrey's chief executive Steve Elworthy on an interim basis.

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY RICHARD GIBSON: Chris Lewis has urged England to'show up' in Sunday's Twenty20 World Cup final against Pakistan in order to avoid repeating his class's fatal mistake of '92.' Lewis, a gifted all-rounder in England's march to Melbourne 30 years ago, says the team regrets not doing justice. Each of our players came to the fore at some point in the tournament, and we had a great run.' Every country participated in the group stage, and Lewis says we were the best team.'

Foakes, the Oval captain who did so much at Old Trafford, is the LV= Insurance brand in his final Test against South Africa on Thursday at his home ground. He did it by showing that not everybody has to participate in a high-octane, ultra-positive way to integrate with Stokes and Brendon McCullum's philosophies, which have changed England. Foakesy's director of cricket at Surrey and long-time mentor Alec Stewart says, 'Understated is the right way to describe it.' ' He summed up the century at Old Trafford.'

bOOTH AT OLD TRAFFORD – Ben Foakes walked out to bat just over an hour into the second morning of this second LV=Insurance Test, he would have been forgiven for being afraid. Anrich Nortje, the world's fastest bowler and a man who had twice attempted Foakes for pace at Lord's for scores of six and nought, was seen pawing around Manchester and snorting in the general direction of anyone with a bat. Nortje had just dismissed Jonny Bairstow, who was trapped at one that was too late to allow for the normal decision-making process, and Zak Crawley, whose 101-ball vigil was put to a halt by a beauty kissing the edge of a defensive bat, to add to the sense of foreboding.

BY RICHARD EDWARDS, a complete biography, The call from South Africa's fastest players who demolished England at Lord's top rate in history is a big call. But one former Proteas great insists that it is not outlandish, and that it could well be spot-on. During his playing days, Allan Donald was known as White Lightning and was one of the fastest bowlers of his generation, with a speed of over 90 mph. When England spearheaded a South Africa line-up capable of mixing it with the best, he was on the receiving end of some of his fastest spells during the 1990s. He grouped up with Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis to form a formidable force.