LONDON, 21 May 2003 — England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart was in no mood yesterday to give up his Test place despite renewed calls that he should make way for a younger man. Surrey’s Stewart, 40, will play his 127th Test, against Zimbabwe at Lord’s here tomorrow, thereby extending his England appearance record.

But, in a rare concession to his age, Stewart confirmed he would not be playing one-day international cricket again. Stewart said it was up to the selectors to decide if younger rivals such as Nottinghamshire’s Chris Read (24) or Essex’ James Foster (23) were playing better than him.

The selectors decision to stand by Stewart has provoked plenty of media comment. But the former England captain, never one to worry unduly about what anyone else thinks of him, was adamant he was still the right man for the job.

“I’m the best in the country and I’ve played well in my three games for Surrey this season,” Stewart, who is in a testimonial season with the Oval-based county, said. Asked by reporters here at Lord’s what still motivated him to keep going at international level, Stewart replied: “The honor of playing for England and pride in my performance.

“All I’ve done throughout my career is make myself available and let the selectors decide.”

Stewart, who is twice the age of Zimbabwe keeper Tatenda Taibu, said he understood why there had been calls for him to be replaced. “Throughout my career there always has been, and I hope always will be competition for places. I’m very big on winning,” added Stewart, who nevertheless has been on the losing side (52 matches) in more Tests than any other player.

“You pick a team to win a match or the series and then you have one eye on the future.”

And Stewart said he was ready for any renewed criticism that came his way. “If you make a mistake when you are 39 or 40 it’s because you are too old. When you make a mistake at 28 you’ve just made a mistake.” He insisted he would not be under any extra pressure come tomorrow’s match. “The way I look at is that I haven’t played this many Tests by luck. I must have reached a good standard during a 13-year-period.”

However, Stewart confirmed that he would not be adding to his England record of 170 one-day international appearances.

Upon his return from the World Cup, Stewart suggested it was time the selectors looked at someone else for limited overs games. And yesterday he confirmed: “You won’t see me in a one-day international again. The people over there,” said Stewart pointing to the England and Wales Cricket Board offices, “didn’t want me to say I’d retired.”

South Africa Pick

Large Squad

Concern about the South African fast bowling attack was the main reason why an unusually large group of 23 players were picked for an upcoming tour of England, the team’s head selector said in Cape Town yesterday.

“We have identified fast bowling as one of the areas we need to address,” Omar Henry said. Seventeen players will assemble in England on June 16 for a triangular one-day international series which also includes the host nation and Zimbabwe.

Then a squad of 16, including six additional players, will compete in a five-match Test series against England which follows the one-day final at Lord’s on July 12.

Henry said 10 fast or medium-pace bowlers had been included across the two squads.

South Africa’s failure to advance beyond the first round of the World Cup in their own country has largely been blamed on its poor bowling attack, with only former captain Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini producing consistent performances. Pollock was replaced by 22-year-old Graeme Smith after the World Cup, but remains a key member of the team.

Pollock and Ntini will be backed up in the one-day games by Dewald Pretorius, Andre Nel, Alan Dawson, Charl Langeveldt and all-rounders Jacques Kallis and Andrew Hall.

Pretorius and Kallis will stay on for the Test series and will be joined by fast bowler Monde Zondeki and left-arm swing bowler Charl Willoughby.

Pretorius, 25, is currently playing English county cricket for Durham, while Nel, 25, and Hall, 27, are playing for Northamptonshire and Worcestershire respectively. Henry said spin bowling was also a concern which was why all three of the country’s leading exponents, Paul Adams, Nicky Boje and Robin Peterson, who are all left-armers, would tour England.

Adams will be part of both squads, while Boje will play in the one-dayers and Peterson will join the Test party. Two uncapped wicketkeepers, Morne van Wyk and Thami Tsokelile, will be in the one-day and Test squads respectively. They are the only players across the two squads with no international experience.

There are five warm-up matches before the one-day series and four first-class county games during the Test part of the tour. Henry said the selection policy was part of a process to identify the country’s leading 18 to 20 players.

“We are not sure who they are at this stage, so it is a wonderful chance for young players to make their mark in England,” he said.

Not included in either squad was all-rounder Lance Klusener, 31, the 1999 World Cup player of the tournament, who was one of three men who played in the 2003 World Cup who will not be touring England. The other two are Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes, who are both retired.