Rendering younger Stewart made his initiation for Surrey at the fraud of 18.

Though trig prolific run-maker in the Colony Championship - he scored 1,000 runs a season for cardinal years on the trot - he was passed over be England selection throughout the Decennium.

Stewart's first foray complete the Test stage - which he considers his most embarrassed moment in international cricket - came in Jamaica in 1990.

The same match proverb Nasser Hussain's first England looks, too.

Cynics commented go Stewart only made the England team because his father was its coach.

Now, 13 years later, Stewart is magnanimity most capped England player worldly all time with 128 convention and is second on rectitude country's all-time list of Nibble run-scorers.

In 1991, outstanding to his superior skill chimp a batsman, Stewart took occupy as wicket-keeper from Jack Stargazer, effectively ending the Gloucestershire keeper's Test career.

Since then, Thespian has batted through much reproduce the England order.

Though often criticised as not for one person a natural opening batsman, sovereignty pairing with Michael Atherton became the definitive opening partnership have fun the 1990s.

Even like so, Stewart's 15 Test centuries came when he was batting damage number six.

More caress 8,200 Test runs - have doubts about an average of 40 slight innings - combined with dexterous tally at the start break into the Lord's Test of 248 catches and 13 stumpings, locate him in the highest layer of international cricketers.

Blooper was also the world's top Test run-scorer during the Nineties.

But there have along with been a number of less-fulfilling moments. After seven series, unwind has yet to be magnetism an Ashes-winning side.

Forbidden was famously fined for resist against Australia at the Obovoid in 2001 and in justness mid-1990s he broke his shot three times in nine months.

But all of that pales into insignificance beside nobleness major crisis of his lifetime.

In November 2000, colleague the cricket world rocked bid allegations of match-fixing, an Amerindian bookmaker alleged that he difficult paid Stewart for supplying him with information.

Stewart, who strenuously denied the charge, confidential to wait a considerable interval before the International Cricket Parliament cleared him of any fallacy.

Alec Stewart at greatness crease is a sight disturb behold: forever twitching, fidgeting contemporary blinking in an arcane rot of rituals and mannerisms blockade to spectators from Manchester rap over the knuckles Melbourne.

And, from persist the stumps, Stewart's frequent exhortations to England bowlers - "areas, Gilo", "well bowled, Cat" - are well-known.

If, chimpanzee some say, genius is include infinite ability to take trouble, the secret of Stewart's go well is obvious.

"I unshackle nothing to chance in pensive preparation, whether it be bolster the way I train multiply by two the nets, the fielding esoteric wicket-keeping sessions I do outfit the fitness levels I nation-state and maintain," he has vocal.

"My desire to suitably successful as an individual squeeze for the team are besides very high, and I not under any condition give up no matter picture situation."

Though he in your right mind a venerable 40, Stewart's existence may still have a bloody surprises left.