Surrey chief Alec Stewart to take leave of absence to care for wife Lynn during cancer battle

Alec Stewart has temporarily relinquished his role as Surrey director of cricket due to family reasons.

‘Alec’s wife Lynn has been fighting cancer since 2013 and as she begins a new course of treatment, in order to care for his wife and family at this difficult time, Alec has decided to temporarily step away from his day-to-day duties,’ read a statement from Surrey.

Stewart, 59, will be replaced on an interim basis at the Kia Oval by Surrey’s chief executive Steve Elworthy.

Alec Stewart will take a leave of absence to care for his wife Lynn during her cancer battle

Stewart is temporarily stepping down from his role as Surrey’s director of cricket 

Elworthy also delivered a personal message to the Stewart family, saying: ‘All of our thoughts are with Alec, Lynn and the family and we wish them the very best.

‘The Club will fully support Alec and the family through this leave of absence and ask everyone to please respect his request for privacy.’  

Stewart is a popular figure in English cricket having played 133 Test matches for his country between 1990 and 2003.

Stewart is a popular figure in the game, and is England’s fourth-most capped Test player

Only James Anderson, Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad have played more Test matches for England.   

Surrey won their second County Championship title with Stewart at the helm last summer, and the gates at the Vauxhall End of The Oval are named after him in honour of his achievements for the club.

During his nine years in charge, he has been approached by the ECB over multiple England roles but has turned down advances on each occasion to remain close to his family rather than travel abroad.