Stewart accepts heavy burden

LONDON -- Alec Stewart was confirmed as England's new cricket captain yesterday and said it was a "huge thrill" to take over from Mike Atherton.

Stewart was preferred to Nasser Hussain for the job, which remains one of the most coveted in British sport despite the prolonged lack of success for a team that has not beaten a major Test nation in a full series for more than 11 years.

Stewart has been appointed for this summer's five-Test series against South Africa, and the one-off Test against Sri Lanka in August.

Adam Hollioake, Stewart's captain at Surrey, has retained the leadership of England's one-day team for this month's limited overs series against the South Africans.

"The job of captaining your country is the highest honour you can have in the game so it is a huge thrill to be given the chance to do just that," said Stewart, 35. "I am grateful that the selectors have shown faith in my ability to lead the side and now it is up to me to repay that faith by trying to steer England to victory this summer."

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said Hussain, overlooked despite being Atherton's vice-captain for the past 18 months, would "still play a key part in the onfield decision-making process".

"Nasser remains an absolute pivotal part of the side," Graveney said. "Our decision on the captaincy was a very close run thing."

Stewart said: "I'm very much looking forward to working with Nasser as we look to achieve our goal of making us a consistently successful Test side once again. I would also like to place on record my thanks to Mike Atherton for what he has done as captain over the last four-and-a-half years."

Graveney said Stewart would continue to bat in the top order, although admitting he is likely to resume wicketkeeping duties, too. This winter in the West Indies, Stewart concentrated on opening the batting.

"Alec's experience, coupled with the respect in which he is held by the players, convinced us that he is the man to lead the Test side," Graveney said. "In making our decision we took into account that Alec is likely to be filling several key roles within the side through his captaincy, batting and, in all probability, his wicketkeeping.

"But after discussion between the selectors, other key personnel and Alec himself, it was felt he could cope with the various responsibilities if it is deemed to be in the team's best interests, although we will be monitoring the situation to make sure he is not being over-extended."

Graveney also confirmed that Stewart -- unlike Atherton last year -- would be co-opted onto the Test selection panel.

Stewart, who has scored 5 153 runs in 75 Tests at an average of 41, has led England twice before in Tests: in 1993, against India at Madras and against Sri Lanka in Colombo. England lost both matches.

Later that year Stewart, then vice-captain to Graham Gooch, was passed over when Atherton was appointed.