LONDON, 23 July 2003 — England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart will retire from Test cricket after the five-match series against South Africa starting tomorrow.

Stewart, 40, who plays his 129th Test at Edgbaston this week, has scored 8,281 runs at an average of 40.19, including 15 centuries, since making his debut in 1990.

He has played more Tests than any other England player and is second only to his former captain Graham Gooch in the list of England Test run-scorers.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I let Duncan (coach Duncan Fletcher) know this morning over breakfast and then informed (chairman of selectors) David Graveney as well,” Stewart told a news conference yesterday. “It’s not something I’ve taken lightly. I had 13 years as an international cricketer and it’s not something you just give away.

“I could have left it until the end of the summer but I felt it was better to get it over now.”

Fletcher said: “I still believe that Alec is the best all-round wicketkeeper we have got by some distance but there are some young keepers coming through.

“I think he has got better and better over the last couple of years and the thing that has impressed me most is his professionalism and the way he has been a role model for younger guys.”

Since making his Test debut against West Indies in Jamaica in 1990, Stewart has been one of England’s most devoted servants.

His Test average testifies to his ability as a batsman but it would have undoubtedly been several points higher if he had not also kept wicket for most of his career.

He formed a successful opening partnership with former captain Mike Atherton during the 1990s, with the high point coming in the fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados in 1994.

Stewart tamed the West Indies fast bowlers to score 118 and 143 as England became the first Test side to win in Bridgetown for 59 years.

A handsome, upright batsman who hits the ball crisply both sides of the wicket off the back foot, Stewart subsequently moved down the order when he resumed the wicketkeeping duties.

Passed over initially in favor of Atherton for the England captaincy, he took over from the Lancashire opener for the 1998 series against South Africa.

England won a hard-fought series but Stewart was deposed the following year when his side failed to advance to the second round of the World Cup.

He continued to give loyal service to his replacement Nasser Hussain with the one blot in his career coming in November, 2000, when an Indian bookmaker said he had paid Stewart to supplying him with information. Stewart was subsequently cleared by the International Cricket Council.

Stewart was also never on the winning side in seven Ashes series against Australia.

Son of former Surrey captain and England opener Micky, Stewart was always immaculately dressed and a devotee of physical fitness.

“I leave nothing to chance in my preparation whether it be in the way I train in the nets, the fielding and wicketkeeping session I do or the fitness levels I try and maintain,” he said.

Fit-Again Tendulkar Gears Up for Tough Australian Challenge

In New Delhi, India’s batting star Sachin Tendulkar is ready to face the might of world champions Australia later this year after having fully recovered from a hand injury, officials said yesterday.

The record-breaking 30-year-old underwent surgery in the United States in May to repair the ring finger of his left hand which was damaged while attempting a catch last November.

The injury did not prevent Tendulkar from scoring a record 673 runs during the World Cup in February-March in which India reached the final where they lost to Ricky Ponting’s Australia.

India face the mighty Aussies again in a one-day triangular series at home in October-November, also featuring New Zealand, before undertaking a keenly-awaited four-Test tour of Australia in December. Tendulkar will join the rest of his teammates in a preseason training camp at Bangalore from Aug. 12 to Sept. 6 to prepare for two home Tests against New Zealand, India’s first international engagement since April.

India have not played Test cricket since December when they toured New Zealand for two matches, losing both.

Tendulkar will make a rare appearance in two domestic tournaments at the start of the new season, according to Ratnakar Shetty, secretary of the master batsman’s home association in Bombay.

Tendulkar will take part in the limited-overs Challenger series in Bangalore from Sept. 10-14 featuring the top 36 cricketers of the country divided in three teams.

He will then play for Ranji Trophy champions Bombay against the Rest of India in the five-day Irani Trophy match at Madras from Sept. 18-22.

“Sachin has confirmed he will be available for both events,” Shetty said. “These will be ideal warm-ups for the hectic season and all the top stars of the country will take part.” Tendulkar has scored 8,811 runs in 105 Tests with 31 centuries — at par with Australia’s Steve Waugh and three behind compatriot Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of 34. He is also the most successful batsman in the history of limited-overs cricket with 12,219 runs from 314 games with 34 centuries.