Surrey will be taught this month whether or not their bid to host and run a Tier 1 membership within the new ladies’s home construction has been profitable, and chairman Oli Slipper has made clear his need for higher involvement within the operating of Oval Invincibles, with ongoing discussions round modifications within the Hundred’s possession mannequin.
When Stewart steps down on the finish of the calendar 12 months, Surrey will consider a restructure of their cricket division. Gareth Batty, their head coach, has labelled Stewart “irreplaceable” and that might be laid naked by a brand new job description for Stewart’s potential successor after they promote publicly later this 12 months.
Surrey will consider appointing an general head of cricket with tasks for each males’s and girls’s groups, equal to a sporting director position at a soccer membership. They don’t intend to make a agency choice till they’ve extra readability on the home construction for 2025 and past.
Stewart has suggested Surrey that any new rent needs to be somebody who “understands the membership” and isn’t overawed by the extent of expectation at The Oval. He has been in submit since 2013 and has been related to the county since delivery, following his father Micky in representing them as a participant.
“You have to perceive this membership,” Stewart stated. “That could be a huge factor: the expectation, the dimensions of it, the notion of this place. Subsequently, in case you have been in and round this place… I feel it offers you an actual headstart, when you perceive every thing that’s anticipated of Surrey and the Kia Oval.
“The Kia Oval is the house of Surrey, however additionally it is the convention and occasions enterprise – which is flying – with the dimensions of it and expectation of it. For those who can take care of all of that, then you definately’ve acquired an excellent likelihood.
“However it will possibly eat you up when you do not perceive it or [if you think], ‘Jeez, it is as huge as this?’ It may possibly eat you up fairly fast, whether or not you might be an administrator, worker, participant or no matter it might be, due to what, traditionally, the membership has achieved.”
Vikram Solanki, who spent 18 months as Surrey’s head coach, is in his third season at Gujarat Titans’ director of cricket. He can be the frontrunner if he utilized, however could also be reluctant to depart his IPL franchise. The identical is true of Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting, who performed for Surrey throughout Stewart’s tenure however are Rajasthan Royals’ director of cricket and Delhi Capitals’ head coach respectively.
Tom Moody, who coaches Oval Invincibles and is director of cricket at Desert Vipers within the ILT20, can be one other robust contender for a task just like Stewart’s. A attainable inner candidate is Surrey’s assistant coach Jim Troughton, who not too long ago accomplished a masters diploma on the Institute of Sports activities Humanities, co-founded by the previous England selector Ed Smith.
Stewart has advised the membership’s hierarchy that he’ll “help in any means they need” with managing his exit after 11 years in his position, although doesn’t anticipate to take a seat on the interview panel. “Will they ask me who I would assume from no matter listing they get right down to? I feel they in all probability will,” he stated. “Will they pay attention? No concept.”
He believes that counties have turn into extra ruthless since he returned to Surrey, although isn’t satisfied that may be a good factor. “The need to win has acquired higher. You see extra turnover of coaches and DoCs over the past decade. It is virtually acquired that soccer mentality of, ‘For those who do not win, we’ll transfer you on and produce another person in.’
“What’s county cricket? Sure, trophies are simple to evaluate success on. But additionally, what’s your academy and pathway wanting like? What number of gamers are you bringing by onto your employees, and are they occurring to play for England? What’s success for one county could also be completely different to what’s success for one more county.”
Stewart, who turns 61 subsequent week, has made clear that he’s not retiring however will take a break from the sport as he continues to look after his spouse Lynn, who’s battling most cancers. “If I can nonetheless keep in and across the recreation in some capability, then that is what I would love to do,” he stated. “However this job calls for 100% consideration, and that is the explanation why I advised the membership I might step down.”
Surrey begin their County Championship season away at Lancashire on Friday as they chase a 3rd successive title. “We have been good final 12 months, however I did not assume we have been nice,” Stewart stated. “We take nothing without any consideration. Sure, we is perhaps favourites, but it surely means nothing. All of us begin on zero factors… England will come and raid us, we’ll have accidents, and it is [about] how we cope and react.”
Matt Curler is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
