Alec Stewart will be leaving his post as director of cricket after 11 years, thus Surrey will need to find a replacement.
Surrey has won three County Championships under Stewart’s leadership. The former cricketer for England was able to give the players confidence and assist them win awards for the team. The development of several incredibly gifted cricket players who have gone on to represent the Three Lions has been one of the highlights of Stewart’s tenure as director of cricket. Players who excelled for Surrey and went on to represent England include Ollie Pope, Sam Curran, and Will Jacks.
Following his ascent through the county’s age group cricket tiers, Alec Stewart secured his first professional contract in 1981. The wicketkeeper-batter spent 23 years playing for Surrey, and he won the County Championship title three times. In addition, he won three limited-overs championships while he was a Surrey player.
In response, Alec Stewart stated that he wanted to give the team enough time to locate his perfect replacement. He stated that he wished to spend more time with his family and his cancer-stricken wife Lynn.
“After giving it some thought, I have decided to step down from my position as director of cricket at the end of this calendar year. This has undoubtedly been the hardest choice I have had to make in my professional career. Stewart was cited by ESPN cricinfo as saying, “The primary goal of alerting the club at this time is to give them enough time to find a suitable replacement.”
“I have dedicated myself fully to this work since November 2013, and it has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the world’s best cricket club. But because it requires constant attention, it’s not a job you can easily abandon. My wife has been fighting cancer since 2013, as many may know, and I want to devote more of my time to her and my family in the upcoming years than this work would allow,” he continued.
The 60-year-old expressed his pride in the team’s trophy haul and the quantity of players they developed for the national squad. He continued by expressing his gratitude to all of the athletes, managers, and coaches who helped him during his tenure.
“We have won trophies, produced our own players through the Talent Pathway, and produced players for England over the previous 11 years, and for that I am really proud. “One of the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of the job is helping young talent develop into elite players,” Alec Stewart stated.
I’d like to express my gratitude to all of the players, coaches, and cricket administration personnel I’ve had the pleasure of working with for their amazing assistance and diligence. In addition, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the Club’s success on and off the field.
I’ll always be here to help the club in any way I can, and I’d be open to exploring other options in and around the game that might benefit my family and me. The former England captain continued, “I pledge that my dedication to the position and the team will not waver from now until my last day of work. I am totally focused on helping the squad to achieve more success.”
Over the past 11 years, Alec Stewart has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. Ollie Slipper, a Surrey chair
Ollie Pope Slipper, the chair of Surrey Cricket Club, lavished admiration on Stewart, who represented England in 133 Tests and 170 ODIs, for his services to the team.
For the past 11 years, Alec has been a superb leader. He took over the squad in a challenging situation and has created a reputation for himself as a diligent, committed, and modest member of the community. The cornerstone of the team’s success is the mentality and ideals he has developed, according to Slipper.
Even though he is leaving the club, we don’t want to lose his expertise in the field, and I am confident that his replacement will always be a valuable resource. In addition to thanking Alec for his contributions to the club, I would like to wish him all the best in the future,” he said.
The CEO of Surrey Cricket, Steve Elworthy, said that Alec Stewart professionalism and work ethic were major factors in Surrey’s success.
“Alec Stewart leaves an incredible legacy and has been one of the greatest servants this club has ever seen.” Success during his playing career and much more so in his role as director of cricket has been fueled by Alec’s professionalism, work ethic, and devotion to the Club. Because of his enthusiasm and commitment, the club has reached its current status,” Elworthy said.
“I wish Alec Stewart and his family the best of luck in the future and completely appreciate and accept the decision that they have taken. “I would like to thank Alec for his service on behalf of the staff, players, and membership. His impact at Surrey cannot be overstated,” he continued.