Stewart to quit England

MOST TEST CAPS Steve Waugh: 157 Tests Allan Border: 156 Courtney Walsh: 132 Kapil Dev: 131 Mark Waugh: 128 Alec Stewart: 128

Former England captain Alec Stewart will quit Test cricket at the end of the summer.

The 40-year-old announced his retirement two days before the first Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.

He said he had come to the decision over the weekend and felt the time was right to call it a day.

The wicket-keeper/batsman will become the third most capped player in the game if he plays in all five Tests against South Africa.

He is yet to decide whether he will play for Surrey next year.

Photo gallery: Stewart's career

Stewart, who made his England debut in 1990, could play his final Test at his county home, The Oval, in September.

His decision to retire now almost certainly paves the way for Chris Read, England's new one-day wicket-keeper, to be named on the winter tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

I had 13 years as an international cricketer and it's not something you just give away Alec Stewart

But England could still choose to introduce Read before the end of the summer.

Stewart announced his retirement from one-day internationals after England's early World Cup exit and he was named an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours.

The Surrey man said: "I have given it a lot of thought and I let Duncan [Fletcher, the coach] know this morning over breakfast and then informed David Graveney as well.

"It's not something I have 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 later on in the summer but I thought it was better to get it out in the open now so we can get on with the series."

HAVE YOUR SAY The timing is right for Stewart to step down after having done a wonderful job From Al D Join the TMS debate

Among the many highlights of Stewart's Test career were the centuries in both innings against West Indies in Barbados in 1994 and leading England to a famous Test series victory over South Africa four years later.

Fletcher said: "I was pretty surprised. I still believe that Alec is the best all round wicket-keeper 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."