The tributes start as Stewart nears his final fling

Alec Stewart's illustrious England career will finally come to an end after the fifth Test against South Africa at The Oval, back where it all began with Surrey 22 years ago. It will be Stewart's 133rd Test, 15 more than Graham Gooch, whose record for the most England caps Stewart passed last year. And even before his final fling has begun, the tributes have started pouring in.

Keith Medlycott, the Surrey coach, said: "I played with him in 1984 and he's still going now - it's remarkable really. You can only have quality impressions of a guy like that. He's as good a professional as can be. The way he trains is impeccable, the way he prepares is impeccable and the way he plays is impeccable, he's like the Alan Shearer of cricket.

"He has been such a valuable servant for club and country that I think people have taken him for granted sometimes. People have gone on about the next Ian Botham ever since he retired, but they forget we have had Alec Stewart. He's as good an allrounder as there has been in the world for the last 10 or 12 years - and I'm not talking about his bowling."

Medlycott continued: "A lot of people have been wanting him out of the England set-up for a while now, but we won't appreciate him fully until we realise what we are missing. It's right that a player of his stature has gone out on his own terms, and we are going to see how big a gap needs to be filled over the next couple of years."

David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, claimed Stewart has never been in better touch, thanks to Duncan Fletcher, the England coach. "He has developed as a cricketer over the last few years because of his work with Duncan and I think he's a better player now than he's ever been during his career." Graveney continued: "He has played a big part in balancing the side over all these years and he continues to be an outstanding allround cricketer for England. The country will owe him a huge debt when he does retire at the end of this series. He has set the standards in terms of fitness and he is 40 going on 30 even now. He doesn't give anything to chance and is hugely professional in his preparation and in the manner he plays the game."

Mark Butcher, who won't have been on Stewart's Christmas card list after he divorced his sister, didn't let family politics cloud his judgment on Stewart. "His standards remain high. If there has been any surrender to the ageing process it has not been anywhere near enough to cost him his place. Where he continues to stand out, though, is through his batting which none of the pretenders to his throne can yet match. He keeps on churning the runs out and there's no-one in the country to touch him in that regard."

Fletcher himself was also full of praise: "I really believe he is one of our few world-class players. He's kept wicket magnificently and I think he's got better and better. Over the last two or three years his batting has improved and the thing that has impressed me most of all is his professionalism as a role model to the younger guys off and on the field.

"He's been a great servant to English cricket and I really respect his ability and what he's contributed and the help he's given me when I've needed it. It's always nice to get out at the top, but there's nothing worse than when a guy leaves the game bitter and that normally happens when you've left your decision too late."

So what of the man himself? Well, Stewart was as pragmatic as ever. "The important thing," he said, "without sounding too blase about it, is that we win well and make up for a poor defeat at Headingley and square the series." And only then will he allow his thoughts to look back on a distinguished 14 years at the top with England: "After that I can sit down in the dressing-room when it is all over and look back on what has been a very good career."