Stewart keen on coaching

Stewart continues to give 100 per cent to the England cause

England's Alec Stewart is contemplating a move into coaching after deciding to call time on his international career.

The 40-year-old is set make his last Test appearance against South Africa at The Oval next month.

He had intended to play one more season for Surrey before calling it a day as a player.

Stewart has no agreement in place with the club, however, because he is centrally contracted to the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Other counties are thought to be monitoring the situation in case Surrey decide Stewart's services are no longer required after 22 years.

"I'm a Surrey and England players, and in an ideal world that's how I'll finish.

"But it may be that Surrey say they can't afford the salaries for all the players we've got, or it doesn't fit in with the young players coming through," he told the Sunday Times.

A few phone calls have come my way Alec Stewart Stewart's career in pictures

Stewart's interest in coaching has increased in recent seasons because of the influence of England's Duncan Fletcher.

"If you had said to me four years ago that I would go into coaching, I would have said no.

"But Duncan Fletcher has been a breath of fresh air in his style of coaching and the way he looks at the game," said Stewart.

"It's an option. I've got lots of thinking to do."

Stewart has played 131 Tests and 170 one-day internationals for England since making his debut in October 1989.

His service has twice been recognised with the award of an MBE in 1998 and an OBE earlier this year.