Stewart takes up new Surrey role

Former England captain Alec Stewart has joined old international team-mates Graham Thorpe and Chris Adams on Surrey’s management team.

Stewart, who already is a part-time ambassador at the Brit Oval and runs a sports management company, will also take on a coaching, mentoring and consultancy role.

The 45-year-old retired in 2003 with 367 England caps and 587 Surrey appearances to his name but had resisted calls to take up a permanent role with his former county.

However, he will join professional cricket manager Chris Adams and batting coach Graham Thorpe, also a former county team-mate, in their bid to restore Surrey to former glories.

Alec Stewart played in a record 133 Tests and 170 ODIs in his 22-year career

Buy this photo

Stewart said: “I have been a Surrey man all my life and am relishing the opportunity to get back involved in a cricketing role at the club.

“We have some bright young talent on the staff and I hope I can help them wring out every drop of their ability to secure success for both Surrey and England over years to come.”

In his new coaching position Stewart will work with the club’s batsmen and wicketkeepers. He will also act as a mentor for Surrey’s young players and a consultant to the county’s staff, including Adams and managing director of cricket Gus Mackay.

Adams said: “A true great such as Alec Stewart should always be involved at his club and I could not be happier to welcome him onto our coaching staff.

“I saw Alec do some coaching when I was Sussex last year and getting him involved in the first-team set-up was one of my key goals when I started at Surrey. He is still a model professional and utterly exemplifies the excellence I want my players to aspire to.

“With true greats such as Graham Thorpe and Alec Stewart back in our dressing room, I am confident that we will see success return to Surrey in the coming years.”

Mackay added: “The return of Alec Stewart to Surrey is as clear a statement of intent as you can get about the direction the club is travelling in.

“Under the powerful leadership of Chris Adams, I am confident that our cricket management team will be able to bring sustained success to Surrey and develop a legacy that will see the club prosper long into the future.”