Alec Stewart 54 off 159 Balls 219 Mins 9 Fours vs Sri Lanka First Innings of 2nd Test, Kandy, March 07 - 11, 2001 (CT) - video Dailymotion

Mr. Devotor

Relive one of the most resilient innings from England legend Alec Stewart during the historic 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy, March 2001. Facing world-class spin in grueling heat, "The Gaffer" scored a vital 54 off 159 balls, spending over three and a half hours at the crease to help England secure a rare series-leveling victory. In this video: Full highlights of Stewart's first-innings 54. Analysis of the controversial LBW decision in the second innings. A look at Stewart’s tour milestones, including reaching 7,000 Test runs. Insights into England's first series win in Sri Lanka in nearly 20 years. As of late 2025, Alec Stewart continues his legacy in the game, recently resuming his full-time role as the Director of Men's Cricket at Surrey County Cricket Club. Hashtags #AlecStewart #EnglandCricket #CricketHighlights #TheGaffer #TestCricket #SurreyCCC #Kandy2001 #EnglandVsSriLanka

Transcript

00:00In this vintage clip, Alex Divert scored 54 runs of 159 balls in 219 minutes, hitting 9-4s during

00:08England's first innings in the second test at Kennedy in March 2001. Alex Divert anchored the

00:15inning. This match was crucial to England leveling the series. Alex Divert innings helped to build a

00:20total after a difficult start. He survived early pressure before falling in another controversial

00:26umpiring decision during that series. The match itself was a bruising contest, won by England

00:32with habitual steel, overcoming challenging umpiring and conditioned to square the series.

00:38Alex Divert was eventually caught by Tilkar at the Dilshan and bowed by Sanat Jaysouria.

00:43This hard-fought innings, alongside a century from Nasir Hussain and a half-century stand

00:48with Graham Thorpe, helped England to build a significant lead over Sri Lanka's first

00:52inning total of 297. So let's watch Alex Divert innings.

00:57Obviously, they think they've got him out twice. Oh, and that one turned a long way. Big appeal

01:04there. Probably turned too much. And, uh, well, Stuart just looking down at the inside edge of

01:10his bat. There might have been a bit of bat in that as well. Not out, says umpire, could I?

01:14He's had a lot to do, umpire Correa. And, uh, that one's spending a great deal.

01:22I think the ratio's, uh, absolutely opposite in this match. At last, Stuart breaks free. There's

01:30a big gap at a point. He's found it. That's four to him. He moves on to nine. Late decision

01:36from Alex Stewart. He saw it was short and wide. Plenty of room to swing the bat. Got the

01:40wrong line, Sanat Jaysouria. He ought to be bowling around the wicket. He's played the penalty

01:44here. Short, wide. Stewart, I think initially was going to leave it. And then saw, well,

01:48I will take four. Yeah, there's no one there. And that's exactly what he did. In the air

01:53for a while, but safe.

02:03Got that away fine. It's beaten the man to short backward square. And this will run away

02:08very quickly. And it will go for four. Sri Lankan captain, uh, really doing himself a

02:18mischief there, trying to stop that four. Thankfully, he's OK.

02:22Well, it's a demolition job. The sweep from Alex Stewart. Kept Jaysouria interested, ball

02:31pitches outside leg stump. Good sweep by Stewart, gets the ball fine. He's interested all the way.

02:37Then everything collapses.

02:44It's amazing. The LBW is taken out of both ends, really bowling over the wicket. It's

02:47very hard to get an LB. And Sanat Jaysouria similarly, a left armor, bowling over the wicket.

02:52So he's pitching outside leg. So the LBW is really a very difficult option for them.

02:58Cool pitch. Stewart Scott, this one away. It's a rare boundary for him.

03:07That's what he's so good at, Alex Stewart.

03:12Concentration. And when he gets the bad ball, he's put it away.

03:16It's all very well getting them, but you've got to hook them into the gaps.

03:19And that's what he's done magnificently.

03:23Gift. Doesn't miss it.

03:25Runs here for Stewart. And there'll be four of them.

03:39That's a beauty. Going for that extra spin, Murali. Trying to tempt the drive and go through the gate.

03:45But Alex Stewart is equal to the task. Got the foot right to the pitch.

03:50This is the fighter delivery, which turns a lot more. You really have to get to the pitch.

03:54And we've seen all the England batsmen. They've done it well. They let the ball come past the leg.

03:59That takes the spin out of it.

04:02I'm going to read that.

04:03England had the rough end of things in Gaul. Yesterday, it was Sri Lanka's turn to...

04:17So it seems to me that they are just a few situations around where...

04:24That's right, Claude. That's a beautiful shot.

04:27He's taken that run from outside off Stamphans, washed it away on the onside.

04:31So Alex Stewart's confidence is beginning to grow here as well.

04:35Perfect start to the morning for England.

04:39Stewart, you can argue, has already been out.

04:4250 partnership now.

04:44291 for five. Stewart on 37. White 24.

04:50Well, that's nicely played off the back. But that'll be four.

04:52Lovely timing. Into the boundary it goes.

04:56Four very, very valuable runs.

04:58Onto the back foot. He waited for it as well.

05:01He got just a little bit big, but he was over the top of it and struck it perfectly.

05:05Played well through the offside, Craig White. Just sets himself there.

05:09Gets a base on the back foot. What do we say about the new ball? It can race away much harder.

05:15It's going to go fine. It's going to go all the way, I think.

05:21It is. It's four more than England total.

05:25I'm lucky for the bowler. England will be quite happy with that. Five runs from the over.

05:29116 overs gone now. It's 305 for five.

05:38Runs such as this can always be so frustrating to the fielding team.

05:43Just eluding the hands of the fielders and racing down on this outfield, which is drying up a great deal.

05:52And the ball's just running on it very quickly. Speeds through.

05:56I don't think it'll stop him for long.

06:03That really was a good shot. Hitting in front of Square. In fact, in front of Midwick.

06:07And that goes to show up.

06:11It wasn't his day yesterday. It's certainly not been his morning either.

06:18Good running. Kate Stewart through to a half century. Very well played indeed.

06:24Over three hours he's been at the crease.

06:27And that's thoroughly appreciated by his teammates and all the England supporters in this ground.

06:33Good running. Wonderful knock from Alex Stewart.

06:37Nicely off the back foot.

06:45Good well controlled sweep. This could go all the way for four.

06:47It's beaten the short fielder and the field at deep backwards square.

06:53Very well played and controlled sweep from Stewart.

06:56Beautifully done. Read the line so well.

06:59This is the problem when you're bowling over the wicket if you just stray a little bit.

07:02The length too. It's picked it up as it's bounced.

07:05Beautifully done. Roll of the wrists. Make sure that he keeps it down.

07:09And picked out the gap as well.

07:12Excuse me. Stewart's the man who's causing the problems here for Sri Lanka.

07:16Oh and that's got to be out. Yes, he's given him that time.

07:19Stewart's standing. Stewart's standing and just whoops around.

07:24Might have been a few words there now.

07:26We know that he's been given in once when he was out.

07:31It seemed by his reaction there that he didn't think he hit him.

07:34I'm not so sure about that Greggy. I think his reactions to what was said to him.

07:38Let's have a look.

07:45Two noises. It's fine. Stands up, finger goes up.

07:55It's a big inside edge. There's no doubt about that.

07:58It's gone up.

07:58I think Stewart has gone for 54. It's 330 for seven.

08:08Up goes the finger and that's where he's disappointed.

08:11Responds a bit to that.

08:12That's his reaction there.

08:14And then he turns. Now what does he say?

08:16Let's just have another look at this catch. You guys at home, Link.

08:23Never mind. Now watch it very slowly.

08:26Now where's that ball? Now that, in my opinion, has got to hit the ground.

08:30These fingers are underneath it, Both.

08:34Now you've talked about lip reading.

08:36Good lip readers invariably have a problem with their sight.

08:39You are a very good lip reader. That is out.

08:42Well, how can you lip read if you can't see?

08:43These fingers are underneath the ball. Have a look at this.

08:48Ah, Morford.

08:49No, I'm sorry, Greg. That's on the floor.

08:53England emerged victorious by three wickets. The match took place from March 7-11, 2001.

08:59Sri Lanka scored 297 in their first innings and 250 in their second.

09:05England posted 387 in their first innings and successfully chased down a target in their second

09:11innings, reaching 161 for Simon to secure the win.

09:16This was a significant victory for England on their tour of Sri Lanka.

09:20Throughout the tour, Alex Stewart was a vocal critic of the umpiring standards,

09:24noting that officials were under immense pressure from vociferous uphealing.

09:29Although Alex Stewart struggled for consistency across the tour but hit significant milestones,

09:35because in the first Test match at Calais he reached 7,000 Test Carrier runs, becoming only the seventh

09:41Englishman to do so. He also scored 25 in the second inning of that match but was plagued by what

09:47he called the worst decisions of his career and LBW in the first inning.

09:51Alex Stewart technically gifted right-handed opening bestman and a reliable wicketkeeper.

09:57He famously balanced both roles while occasionally captaining the national side, including leading

10:02England to its first major series win in 12 years against South Africa in 1998.

10:08He ended his Test Carrier with exactly 8,463 runs, a unique total that matches his birth date of 8-4-6-3

10:17and remains one of the highest run scorer in English history.

10:21If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe.

10:24Thank you very much.

Alec Stewart 54 off 159 Balls 219 Mins 9 Fours vs Sri Lanka First Innings of 2nd Test, Kandy, March 07 - 11, 2001 (CT)

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