Stewart tells selectors to look for a one-day replacement

Alec Stewart, the veteran of 170 one-day internationals, has informed the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, that he thinks the time is right for England to look for a new wicket-keeper in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup. He believes that the search for his replacement should begin now to give England the best chance of doing well in the Caribbean. Having said that, he is not actually retiring and would answer any call that came, just as he is adamant that he wants to extend his Test career by making this move.

Speaking at The Oval, Stewart, who has just turned 40, made his motives clear and stressed that he had not used the term retirement at any stage. "It's my belief that England should now look forward to the next World Cup," he said. "Being honest, 2007 is beyond the goal I've set myself.

"It's my opinion and if the selectors don't agree with it and want me to carry on then I will. But I think we should now give ourselves the best possible chance of winning the 2007 World Cup."

Stewart admitted that he began thinking about such a move the day after England had lost their World Cup match to Australia in Port Elizabeth. " I was very down and very disappointed then because I realised that it would be my last World Cup. I didn't want to dive in and make a rash decision but during the last couple of weeks I've come to this decision and I telephoned David Graveney to inform him of my thoughts.

I said that if, as a group of selectors, they decide that Alec Stewart is still the best keeper for the one-day team and you want him to bat, then I'll be there for you and will always give one hundred per cent, but I think now is the perfect time to plan for the future."

What he also made plain to Graveney is that this decision only applies to one-day internationals and he is still as keen as ever to continue his Test career. "I still believe that I'm the best person to keep wicket and bat at number six in the Test side, and I hope the selectors will agree with that too.

"I'm looking forward to this summer when, hopefully, I'll put in some very good performances for England. I'm not walking away from cricket because I'm still fit enough and I believe I'm good enough to play in both forms of the game. But ideally they'll look at the younger element to give England the best chance of victory in 2007.

"If the one-day career is over, then it's over and I can look back and feel very happy with what I achieved."

During his 170 one-day internationals, Stewart scored 4,677 runs at an average of 31.60 and claimed 159 catches and 15 stumpings. He captained England during the 1999 World Cup campaign and it makes sense for him to make the decision he has now.

The main candidate to replace him would appear to be Chris Read of Nottinghamshire. He played nine one-day internationals in 1999/2000, but his batting was not of the same calibre as Stewart's. However, he impressed National Academy coach Rod Marsh during the recent winter and has made rapid advances as a batsman and wicket-keeper to command unstinting praise from Marsh. Such accolades are not given out either easily or often.