November 19 Tuesday 2002
The toughest Ashes series: Stewart

ADELAIDE, Australia: Team elder Alec Stewart says England are facing their toughest Ashes cricket series against Australia in more than a decade. Stewart, who first played an Ashes Test in 1990-91, said Steve Waugh's Australians were playing better than during his previous six losing Ashes campaigns.

The 39-year-old Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman has typified England's struggle against Australia, averaging 39.60 during his career but just 28.04 against Australia, including one century in 30 Tests. But Stewart believes England could fight back from their humiliating 384-run first Test loss at the Gabba eight days ago and win Thursday's second Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Stewart said he had played in just one "meaningful" Ashes victory - England's nine-wicket victory at Edgbaston in the 1997 series opener. Otherwise, England's wins have come after the Ashes had been decided.

"There have been victories but, as far as the Ashes are concerned, there has only been one that has really meant something," Stewart said. "Even at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) last time in Australia, we won when the series was still alive but the Ashes were gone. "But we know what we can do and good sides are entitled to lose. "You guys all expected Australia to retain the Ashes so it shouldn't come as a shock that we're one down.

"We've still got the belief and we know if we improve our performance we can beat Australia." England tour selectors must decide whether to squeeze in-form batsman Robert Key into the team at the expense of all-rounder Craig White and Stewart admitted it was a tough decision. With White in the team, England can call on five bowlers 
but that wasn't enough to prevent Australia piling on 492 and 296 for five declared in the first Test.

Key's inclusion, after his unbeaten 174 against Australia A in Hobart on Sunday, will at least strengthen England's batting after the tourists collapsed for 79 in the second innings of the Gabba Test. And, pending the fitness of opening batsman Michael Vaughan, England can call on Vaughan's part-time off-spin and Mark Butcher's medium pace to cover for White, who claimed a combined 2-166 in Brisbane.

Selectors must also decide between Alex Tudor and Steve Harmison to replace injured quick Simon Jones.