Chelsea Fan Retires

‘YESTERDAY, Alec Stewart announced that he was to retire from Test cricket.

‘Did I ever tell you about facing WG Grace?’

However, the Times says his departure will not be immediate and he will still be in the starting XI for tomorrow’s Test against South Africa.

Stewart, a strapping 97, told a press conference that he will retire when the time is right – ‘and this feels right!’

The departure of England’s batsman, wicketkeeper, cheerleader, bag carrier, bottle washer and hairdresser leaves the way open for a new man to take up the gloves.

And the Times lists the hopefuls: Chris Read, James Foster, Geraint Jones, Matthew Prior and Philip Mustard.

But Stewart’s retirement still leaves England’s coach Duncan Fletcher ‘surprised’. The Independent hears Fletcher say that he was ‘pretty surprised’ by Stewart’s decision to quit.

‘I believe that Alec is the best all-round keeper we have by some distance,’ says Fletcher. ‘He has got better and better over the last couple of years.’

He would be surely less surprised to read in the Indy that Claudio Ranieri, the Chelsea manager, has urged his boss, Roman Abramovich, to keep spending his money.

‘It is important that we continue to pick up the best players,’ says the Italian.

And the player next on the shopping list is Kieron Dyer. The Guardian says that the player, who was recently priced at £25m by his current club Newcastle, is being liked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United say they are not interested in signing the injury prone and hyped England player, which leaves the way clear for a Chelsea bid.

Given the style of player Chelsea have been buying of late, Dyer – overrated and overpriced – would suit them well.

Lastly, let’s say well done to Katy Sexton, who, the Times reports, has just won a silver medal at the swimming world Championships in Barcelona.

But since we do not know which football club Katy supports and since she prefers to swim in a swimsuit not in a bikini, she fails to make a big splash in newssheets.

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Posted: 23rd, July 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink