If Surrey lift the County Championship trophy in September, it will be the first time any team has been crowned three years in a row since Brian Close led Yorkshire to the treble in 1966, '67 and '68 - when they also thrashed the touring Australians by an innings for good measure. Surrey wallowed down in 15th that year -collecting just four wins in 28 matches.
The tables have turned a little since then. Where Yorkshire have slipped from calamity to catastrophe over the last few years, the good ship Surrey has sailed serenely on. But change is afoot. After 11 years as director of cricket and 23 years on the playing staff, Alec Stewart, Mr Surrey - he of the spotless whites and ironed collars, 6am gym stints and military posture will be stepping down at the end of the season to spend more time with family, especially his wife, Lynn, who has cancer.
Gareth Batty, Surrey's head coach, who has worked with Stewart since 2022, knows how big a hole the 60-year-old will leave.
"Alec is irreplaceable," says Batty. "There is not a person in world cricket who can do the job at Surrey that he has, because of who he is and all the history he has with the club. All we can do is put our best foot forward and make sure we put all his hard work into practice."
Denne historien er fra April 04, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra April 04, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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