Despite the end of an 11-year trophy-laden reign, the club tale may continue to exist.
After being appointed as the team's fresh High-Performance Cricket Advisor from January 2025, Alec Stewart will continue to play for Surrey in his official capacity until the new year.
Stewart, 61, last year completed his 11-year tenure as the team's director of cricket, after overseeing their second County Championship defeat in subsequent seasons, and the third of a career that began in 2013.
He resigned from that full-time responsibility for personal reasons, with his family Lynn already undergoing treatment for cancer- a situation that caused him to get a leave of absence in January 2023.
However, the team has chosen not to nominate a direct replacement, as they had previously suggested when discussing a management change to fill the void he was scheduled to leave.
" You've got to know this club", Stewart said back in April, when the team's feelings first turned to dynasty organizing. " That is a great thing: the desire, the size of it, the notion of this area. So, if you have been in and around this area … I think it gives you a true enroll, if you understand everything that is expected of Surrey and the Kia Oval".
Then, under the new structure, Stewart may operate at the pub for a set number of days a year, charged with overseeing the continuing success of the men's wealthy match alongside the men's head coach Gareth Batty and team captain Rory Burns.
Everyone is aware of my devotion to the team and what it means to me, and he said," I'm very happy that the team wanted me to continue playing this new position that has been created."
" With this fresh setup, I strongly believe that we can maintain the success we've seen in recent years at Surrey." I'm eager to see Gareth, Rory, and the entire team continue to work together.
A complete of 12 batsmen have made England appearances during Stewart's career at the membership, nine of whom have come through the team's Ability Road, which is more than at any other region in the country. These include Ollie Pope, England's Test captain in the new series against Sri Lanka, as well as Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith, the two breakthrough stars of England's 2024 summers.
Stewart's role in nurturing these people has been extensively credited, with Pope- whom he first encountered as an Under-9s player- saying at the start of the summertime he" was n't picture" living at the Kia Oval without him.
As a result, Stewart will continue to provide advice on the Surrey Talent Pathway in order to maintain the flow of talented cricketers who can play for the club in all competitions, and ultimately England.
We fully comprehended and accepted Alec's decision to leave his Director of Cricket position at the start of the season, but we always hoped to keep his knowledge and impact at Surrey, according to chair of Surrey Oli Slipper. " We've had excellent conversations with Alec around a common ground that worked for him and for the club and I'm thrilled to say that we have found a role that works for all parties".
Steve Elworthy, Surrey's CEO, added:" Alec has played a pivotal role in the success of the club over many years, not just lifting trophies but the conveyor belt of talent that has progressed through the Talent Pathway. That he will continue to shape the men's professional set up, albeit in a changed role, is brilliant for the club.
" We will not be replacing Alec but will be looking to inpiduals already at the club to take on new responsibilities. The foundations of the success of the elite group have been built by Alec and we are very pleased that we will retain his support in the future."
With his appointment, Surrey's relationship with the Stewart family will continue into its eighth decade after the season's conclusion. Alec's father Micky, after whom the pavilion at the Kia Oval is named, began his 18-year playing career at the club in 1954, before taking over as manager from 1979 to 1986.
Stewart himself played for the club between 1981 and 2003, and had the main gate at the Vauxhall End renamed in his honour in 2006, while his brother Neil is a longstanding coach in the club academy.
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