Wisden Overview
A dapper, courageous opening batsman and specialist short-leg fielder who had excelled in schools' cricket, Micky Stewart almost became a Kent player when he was offered a contract by them at the end of his national service, subject to Surrey having no objection. Surrey decided to sign him, and the following year (1954) he made his debut, scoring 109 against the Pakistanis in his second match for them. Almost immediately he became a fixture in the all-conquering Surrey side that was in the middle of a record run of seven Championships. While his batting was sound, his fielding was outstanding. In 1957 he ended the season with 77 catches (one short of Walter Hammond's record), including a world-record seven in an innings at Northampton. Stewert made his England debut against Pakistan in 1962 aged almost 30, and remained in the side for eight Tests, touring India in 1963-64 as vice-captain. He had to return home early from that trip owing to illness and he was never recalled to the side. His success at county level continued, and between 1963 and his retirement in 1972 he was Surrey's captain, leading them to the Championship in 1971. In 1979 he returned to The Oval as manager (overseeing the early years of son Alec's career) and in 1986 he was appointed manager of the England side in Australia with a brief to oversee discipline, fitness and technical supervision. He remained in the role until 1992, carrying his duties out with typical efficiency and thoroughness, but mixed success. Despite being offered a new contract, he left to take up the post of director of coaching and excellence at the ECB until his retirement in 1997. Stewart was also a talented footballer, playing as an inside-left for Charlton Athletic, Wimbledon and Corinthian-Casuals, once arriving back from a private tour of the Caribbean just half-an-hour too late to play in an Amateur Cup final replay for the Casuals. Martin Williamson