Alec Stewart 74 off 269 Balls 312 Mins 8 Fours vs India 2nd Test at Chennai, Feb 1993

Mr. Devotor

Alec Stewart’s remarkable innings of 74 runs off 269 balls in 312 minutes during the 2nd Test at Chennai, February 1993. On a turning track against India’s formidable spin trio — Anil Kumble, Rajesh Chauhan, and Venkatapathy Raju — Stewart displayed exceptional patience, technique, and class.  Despite the conditions heavily favoring spin, Stewart’s resilience stood out as he played one of his finest knocks on subcontinental soil. This innings remains a shining example of his determination and ability to counter top-quality spin bowling.  Relive the golden days of classic Test cricket and one of England’s greatest openers — Alec Stewart.  Hashtags: #AlecStewart #EnglandCricket #IndiavsEngland #ChennaiTest1993 #TestCricket #CricketClassics #AnilKumble #CricketHistory #VintageCricket #EnglandVsIndia

Transcript

00:00When Alex Stewart was in full flow, two best men in world cricket could match his elegance

00:05and composure.

00:06A master of timing rather than brute force, Alex Stewart was at his fluent best against

00:12fastballers, threading cover drives with effortless grace and pulling with crisp authority.

00:17During England's second test against India at Chennai in February 1993, Alex Stewart produced

00:23a gritty and determined knock of 74 runs of 269 balls, spreading over five hours at the

00:30crease and striking eight well-timed boundaries.

00:33On a surface tailor made for the Indian spin trio of Daniel Khombe, Rajesh Chauhan and Venkat

00:39Pati Raju, Alex Stewart's defiant stood tall aimed England's struggle.

00:44He displayed impeccable footwork, sound judgment and immense concentration to weather the spinning

00:49storm.

00:50His inning was less than in patience and technique.

00:53The hallmark of a true Test Smash Bass man.

01:23uniform his timing.

01:24Lovely time with the ball and we saw it all there.

01:28Well, this is a very elegant shot.

01:30That's it.

01:32Get them forward.

01:34Entice them on that front.

01:39Well, he's enticed him into four runs too.

01:44That's nicely guided away by Alex Stewart, just opening the face of the bat onto that ball.

01:51Yeah, she's entitled to thick edges as an opening batsman.

01:55All those slips, the new ball you've got to face, the swinging ball.

01:59But at the same time, I think that's right, get him forward.

02:01He didn't really mean it to go there.

02:03He was playing it fairly straightish extra cover.

02:06And again, Asruddin.

02:07Good decision by there.

02:08Super decision.

02:09Super decision.

02:10That's a good shot from Stewart.

02:11Nicely timed, finds the gap.

02:12Four good runs.

02:13Both Stewart and Smith have used their feet well to come down the wicket and then, when

02:32that happens quite frequently, the baller tends to pitch it short and then you can score.

02:38So, Anil Kumble, still bowling at the combat stand end.

02:45Fine shot from Alex Stewart, that's beaten the field.

02:50A rare boundary for England, nonetheless very vital.

02:58Stewart is very quick to latch onto anything slightly loose.

03:05This is one of those rare half-vollies from Anil Kumble.

03:10Earlier on, when Venkat Pati Raju pitched the ball short, Stewart was very quick to go

03:15onto the back foot and cut it for a boundary.

03:18With all the field is closing, you've got to make the most of the gaps in the field out there.

03:24That's more runs.

03:27Could actually run away very close to the boundaries.

03:30Raju after it and he doesn't catch it.

03:32So, successive fours for Alex Stewart.

03:34Again, beautifully timed, just worked it off his hips.

03:37The man at deep square leg, very fine, unable to cut it off.

03:42This is the shot which Stewart plays very well.

03:46He's very, very quick as you can see.

03:48Very little power in it.

03:50Lots of timing.

03:51Very good timing.

03:52Well, Alex Stewart will get two for that.

04:08Kumble, the man at square leg.

04:10Trouble is, of course, Jeffrey, you find that you quite often find that when bats can get

04:13into one sort of move, whether it's because of the way they feel or because of the way

04:17the bowlers have bowled at them, it's often very hard to change pace, isn't it?

04:21If you come out and you time your shots early, that's fine.

04:24If you tend to struggle, then you tend to get set in that mood for the rest of the day.

04:32That is one of the shots we were talking about.

04:34That has found the gap.

04:36Beautifully timed again and four runs.

04:41Yeah, she can get stuck into a particular mould.

04:43I don't think he's that sort of player.

04:45I think Mike Latherton could bat all day in a particular cautious mould.

04:50I'm not sure Alex Stewart can.

04:52I think he's got to look to just play.

04:54That tickle to leg for two quickly through the offside.

05:01Good shot by Stewart.

05:02That will race away.

05:03Sidhu's after it.

05:04He's not going to catch it though, because once it gets away on this outfield,

05:08it really does rocket away.

05:10And that is Alex Stewart's 50.

05:12And what a valuable fighting, gritty innings by England's captain in this test match.

05:16Yes, I mean, Alex has taken on a lot of responsibility this match with the captain in the side.

05:22He said he wouldn't have felt comfortable keeping wicket and captain in and opening.

05:28So we gave the gloves to Richard Blakey and he did a good job.

05:32So I'm obviously...

05:33Well, another almost regulation single just nudging it off his pads.

05:45We saw Tendalco and Sidhu doing this endlessly in India's long first innings.

05:50And that's the 100 partnership.

05:52So these two came together at 46 for one when Smith was LB...

05:56David thinks it was a little high.

05:58He's a tall boy, Graham Hick.

06:04You see the temperature there.

06:05It's a sizzler.

06:06And that's been all three days here in Madras.

06:09Alex Stewart's been out there fielding for two days.

06:12And he's got the bat.

06:13He doesn't get a rest in the dressing room being an opening batsman.

06:17He seized all the bats.

06:19That's beating the man up points.

06:22Just going to keep it interested and in for four it goes.

06:29And I always found myself you had to make a supreme effort if you were batting.

06:33Just before and after T.

06:35Oh, it's gone.

06:37Knocked the advertising down.

06:38Nobody's bothered about that.

06:44When you're batting, add two wickets to the score.

06:47And it concentrates the batsman's mind wonderfully.

06:51Now, signs of a chance there too.

06:56It's all happening to the Indian bowl as suddenly it's a purple patch for the Indian spinners.

07:00Yes, this looked to be a bad bat.

07:03It was going right, the fielder.

07:08For anybody who feels in that position, the object is to stay as still as you can.

07:13Very good.

07:14Now then, from the pavilion end, it is the left armour again.

07:19Raju continuing.

07:20I think Alex Stewart has applied himself tremendously well today.

07:32Being captain, being under pressure.

07:35And certainly the ball is starting to turn more appreciably as the match goes on.

07:40Which it will do.

07:41Since it's only halfway through the match.

07:43Yes, the pattern of the game.

07:48Very familiar again here today.

07:49We've got a similar field.

07:50Three men in the covers.

07:51A couple of men in shorts.

07:53There's Wurtry Roman.

07:55He's on thanks to the injury to Vinod Cambly.

07:59Neil Fairbrother struck the other man very hard on the shins just before tea.

08:06It's the classic test match game plan, isn't it?

08:09The side when you bat first.

08:11The wickets at its best normally.

08:12You hope to get a big score and then you create all the pressure.

08:15And that's what we're seeing now.

08:16And the England side are battling it out.

08:18But they're under pressure.

08:22That's brilliantly taken and out.

08:26Ben-Karapati Radu has struck.

08:28It's the end of a very, very fine and patient innings from Alex Stewart.

08:32Caught at silly point.

08:34The substitute field at Dutty.

08:35Because he's given a lot of effort.

08:37A lot of time.

08:38And he's got a ball that's done a bit.

08:40Bounced up.

08:41And we're under real pressure now.

08:43Well, Stewart gone for 74.

08:46England now 175 for 4.

08:50Alex Stewart, who went on to represent England in 133 test matches and 171 day international,

08:57remains one of the nation's finest openers.

09:00Renowned for his attacking approach against the new ball,

09:03he combined classical stroke with mental resilience,

09:06a blend that often gave England stability at the top.

09:10Acting as captain during the chenitis,

09:12Alex Stewart's dual responsibility weighed heavily.

09:15His hesitation to simultaneously open the innings, keep the wicket, and lead the side promoted

09:21the selectors to bring in Richard Blackie as a wicket-keeper.

09:24And bear Robin Smith alongside Stewart at the top.

09:28England found brief solace in decent contribution from Stewart, Graham Hick,

09:32finally showcasing promise.

09:34A near-fair brother who nosed up his median test 50.

09:37Yet the familiar English frailty resurfaced.

09:40A collapse of six wickets for just 63 runs doomed their chance, enforcing the follow-on.

09:45India, with their spinner in full command, claimed victory by an innings and 22 runs.

09:50Throughout the 1990s, the selected quest for the balance offered saw Alex Stewart and Jack

09:55Russell exchanging the wicket-keeping glove while Jack Russell excelled standing up to the stumps.

10:01Alex Stewart's natural game and comfort standing back eventually earned him the undisputed role

10:07as England's premier wicket-keeper best man and one of the most dependable figures in their cricketing history.

10:14If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe.

10:17Thank you very much.

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