Surrey are determined to give departing director of cricket Alec Stewart a successful send-off.
It was announced last week that Stewart would step down from his role at the end of 2024 after a decade in the post.
Stewart, 60, has overseen the development of several England internationals, alongside guiding Surrey to three County Championship titles, and a number of key figures in the team are eager to help him sign off with more silverware.
Red-ball captain Rory Burns said: “It can be an emotional driver if that is the way you are inclined.
“The way we try to operate, we look at what our process is and what we want to do day to day. It would be nice to send the gaffer out with another Championship win, but we’ve got a lot of hard work to do before that.”
England batter Ollie Pope missed the meeting at Kia Oval where Stewart, in typically modest fashion, told the group of his decision in a brief manner before he turned the focus on to trying to produce another successful campaign.
Former England wicketkeeper Stewart, who has helped care for his wife through her cancer battle since 2013, played a key role in Pope’s journey from Surrey academy graduate to vice-captain of the Test team.
“I sadly missed a meeting when he announced it to the boys, but I had a phone call with him straight after and, yeah, I felt gutted,” Pope admitted.
“I can’t imagine a club where you don’t see Stewie in every morning. I think he’s in at 6am every day on the rowing machine or on the treadmill or doing some weights, but that’s because he loves the club and loves being here.
“And he’s also ridiculous at his job as well. The way he sort of makes you feel like you’ve got a personal relationship, but he’s also got the job to give you your contracts or release you.
“I’ve got a great picture of him giving me my Surrey under-eight player-of-the-year award, which is one I’ll always have. He presented me with my England cap, again the video and the pics of that are seriously special.
“Every player in the club and every member of the coaching staff feels like they’ve just got so much to owe him because whether he sees the talent in you or sees the good person in you, he sort of brings it out.
“So he’s going to be a massive, massive loss for the club. It’s going to be sad when he leaves, but hopefully we can win a couple of trophies for him this year to give him a good send off.”
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Stewart brought Ben Foakes to the club from Essex in 2015.
Foakes added: “I was trying to think the other day if there is anyone that has done more for English cricket after their playing career and I couldn’t think of anyone.
“He is going to obviously be massively missed.
“It will be a huge blow for us, but he has earned his break and to switch off a bit.
“The amount he has given to the group and the club as a whole, it would be the icing on the cake and good to send him off with one (trophy).”
Springer replaces injured Russell in Windies squad for final leg of England T20Is in Saint Lucia; returning Alzarri Joseph replaces Shamar Joseph
All-rounder Shamar Springer and pacer Alzarri Joseph have been drafted into the West Indies T20I squad ahead of the crucial St. Lucia leg of their “Rivalry” series against England, CWI announced on Tuesday.
Springer replaces Andre Russell who has been ruled out due to a left ankle sprain sustained during the opening T20I at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Bajan recently made his international debut during the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka in October.
The other change sees Alzarri Joseph, having completed his two-match suspension, rejoin the squad in Saint Lucia, replacing Shamar Joseph.
The West Indies currently trail the five-match series 0-2.
The squad for the final three games is as follows:
Remaining Schedule of West Indies vs England T20I Series:
3rd T20 International: 14 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
4th T20 International: 16 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
5th T20 International: 17 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
Pride get back on track with tense eight-run DLS method win over Volcanoes
The Barbados Pride rebounded from their defeat at the hands of the CCC in their last game with an eight-run DLS method win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain on Monday.
In the rain-reduced 46 overs-per-side affair, the Pride, after winning the toss and choosing to bat, posted 239-9 from their 46 overs.
In form batsmen Kevin Wickham and Leniko Boucher led the way for the Pride with 47 and 43, respectively while Kemar Smith (34*) and captain Kyle Mayers (33) also made valuable contributions.
Kenneth Dember was excellent in his 10 overs of off-spin, finishing with figured of 3-33.
Set a revised target of 245 from 46 overs, the Volcanoes fell agonizingly short of a win, being bowled out for 237 in the end.
Jeremy Solozano tried his best with an 88-ball 85 while West Indies batsman Kavem Hodge made 37.
Mayers led from the front with the ball with 3-50 from seven overs of medium pace while Dominic Drakes and Javed Leacock each took a pair of wickets.
Full Scores:
Barbados Pride 239-9 off 46 overs (Kevin Wickham 47, Leniko Boucher 43, Kemar Smith 34*, Kyle Mayers 33, Kenneth Dember 3-33)
Windward Islands Volcanoes 237 off 46 overs (Jeremy Solozano 85, Kavem Hodge 37, Kyle Mayers 3-50, Javed Leacock 2-37, Dominic Drakes 2-42).
Top performances from Matthews, Dottin lead Melbourne Renegades to nine-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers
West Indian superstar duo Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin powered the Melbourne Renegades Women to a dominant nine-wicket win over the Adelaide Strikers Women in Women’s Big Bash League action at the Karen Rolton Oval on Monday.
Matthews and Dottin both got their best scores of the season to help the Renegades hawk down a target of 186 for the loss of just one wicket in 17.1 overs.
Matthews hit 12 fours and two sixes on her way to 85* off 54 balls while Dottin finished 46* off just 18 balls, hitting seven fours and one six.
Courtney Webb, who opened with Matthews, earlier retired hurt on 37.
Earlier, the Strikers posted what they thought would be a good total with 185-8 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Renegades.
Talia McGrath and Smriti Mandhana led the way with 49 and 40, respectively, as Matthews led the Renegades bowling with 2-28 from her four overs.
The win puts the Renegades second on the points table with eight points from seven games, the same amount of points as the Sydney Thunder who have played two less games.
Full Scores:
Adelaide Strikers Women 185-8 off 20 overs (Talia McGrath 49, Smriti Mandhana 40, Hayley Matthews 2-28)
Melbourne Renegades 186-1 off 17.1 overs (Hayley Matthews 85*, Deandra Dottin 46*, Courtney Webb 37).
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