Stewart said England would ``pick horses for courses'' for each match during the five-Test series. England were expected to name a full strength side to play Queensland, their only four-day Test prep, but Stewart Wednesday denied it would be the basis for the squad to play Australia in Brisbane starting on November 20.
The tourists arrived in this tropical tourist centre late Wednesday after drawing Tuesday's match with South Australia in Adelaide as Graham Thorpe (223 not out) and Mark Ramprakash (140 not out) set a record-breaking 377-run partnership.
They eclipsed the record for the highest partnership by any touring team in Australia, surpassing achievements from 116 tours here in 136 years. The two batting concerns are Stewart, who made a pair of ducks against South Australia, and opener Mark Butcher.
``The Test side won't be the side that plays in Cairns,'' Stewart said. ``We have got the option of seven batsmen and four of the six (batsmen against South Australia) are in good form. But we'll pick horses for courses for the Test series.
``We will go to Brisbane, look at the wicket and pick who we think will be required and carry that on throughout the series.
``It helps, obviously, if six batsmen have found form - we have the option of whether we will play five bowlers or seven batsmen.''
The England captain said he was not concerned at his or Butcher's sluggish tour start with the bat. Butcher received 10 stitches above the right eye when struck in the first innings of the Western Australia match in Perth and took no further part. The Surrey left hander returned in Adelaide but made two and five. ``Obviously we want Butcher and Stewart to contribute a little more than they did in the last game but it's not a concern,'' the England skipper said.
``If you miss out again in the next two innings then you don't go into the Test full of confidence with runs under your belt.
``It then comes down to backing your ability ... but in an ideal world we both would spend some time in the middle against Queensland.'' Meanwhile, reserve wicketkeeper Warren Hegg Wednesday returned to England to be with his pregnant wife. He was expected to rejoin his teammates in Brisbane next Tuesday.