Stewart faces elbow surgery

Alec Stewart opted not to tour with England

Surrey and England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart is to undergo elbow surgery in an effort to cure a long-standing injury problem.

Stewart said: "The problem is a chronic form of tennis elbow which is affecting both my arms.

"For the last 18 months I have only been able to play cricket thanks to a course of injections and intense physiotherapy.

"Now I want to try to get it sorted out."

Stewart, 38, will have the operation at the end of the month and will then have both his arms in plaster for two weeks.

He will then undergo a course of rehabilitation.

In August, Stewart made himself unavailable for England duty until the New Year.

Rejected

At the time, he said he feared that corruption allegations made against him by bookmaker Mukesh Gupta relating to the 1992-93 tour would be given a fresh airing.

Gupta's claims were rejected earlier this year by international cricket's Anti-Corruption Unit.

Stewart also said that he wanted to spend some more time with his family after a decade of continuous England duty at home and abroad.

The England management have been aware of his elbow problems and he came close to giving up the gloves during a Test on England's tour of Pakistan last year.

But Stewart's decision not to travel this winter provoked a strong reaction from England's chairman of selectors David Graveney.

He had a stark warning for the Surrey stalwart, and Yorkshire fast bowler Darren Gough - another India absentee.

Graveney said: "It would set a dangerous precedent to allow players to pick and choose which elements of a winter tour they are prepared to undertake."

Stewart has been resting while James Foster, 17 years his junior, has kept wicket for England with limited success in Zimbabwe.

Foster and Hegg are on duty for the two later tours this winter - to India and New Zealand.