Despite its myriad attractions, cricket has always had the capacity to be the cruellest of games. It's a fact that Alec Stewart, former England captain and opening batsman has recently had much cause to reflect on. Not so long ago, Stewart was the pivotal member of the England side, the highest run scorer in a single calendar year, captain, wicket-keeper, hard hitting opening bat, with the balance of the national team being formed around his undoubted talents. However with a recent dip in form, a poor run in the World Cup which resulted in the loss of the captaincy and scores of 1 and 0 in the First Test against New Zealand, Stewart's currency appeared to have dipped to such a low, that in some quarters the Lord's Test was being portrayed as the Surrey man's last chance to make a case for this winter's tour to South Africa. A fresh humiliation was heaped on Stewart's shoulders this week when a cheeky picture appeared in the English tabloids when he was caught with his trousers down during a net session on the practice ground at Lord's.

Yet one of the oldest sayings in the game is that form is temporary, but class is permanent and Stewart was certainly thirsting for a chance to prove this hoary adage, when Nasser Hussain won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat. Fortunately Lord's has always proved a happy hunting ground for Stewart, who in 11 innings had scored 1031 runs including two centuries and averages over fifty at the home of cricket. With all English eyes focussed on Stewart's fortunes, the game within a game began with the Surrey man surviving an early run out chance. However as the morning wore on, there were signs that something of his old form was starting to reassert itself. Stewart has always been at his best when he has looked to dominate the bowlers and an imperious pull through midwicket off Geoff Allot signalled that he was determined to play to his traditional strengths. There were occasional signs of uncertainty, with the odd play and miss and two deflected fours through third man which hardly reeked of quality, but on the whole, Stewart was positive and aggressive, running some sharp singles and unleashing some trademark cuts and pulls which suggested he was starting to find his touch again.

Stewart scored 31 of England's first fifty runs and thoroughly deserved his moment of history when he deflected Dion Nash for a single, to join a select band of Englishman which includes Graham Gooch, David Gower and Geoff Boycott who have all scored six thousand runs in Test cricket. With either bat or gloves, Stewart is usually amongst the most phlegmatic of old pros, but after he had moved to 47, he drove hard through mid-off and almost lapped Hussain in his eagerness to reach the landmark half century. The bat was raised in acknowledgement to the crowd's applause, but perhaps what was more telling, was a look to the heavens which spoke of the sheer relief he felt now that the milestone was achieved. But the moment soon passed and typically, like the dogged campaigner he is, Stewart simply made a minor adjustment to his helmet and it was time to get on with the game again.

But this being England, the fairytale had to end and with lunch approaching and no further addition to his score, Stewart seemed to be caught in two minds by a ball from Dion Nash. Trying to withdraw the bat, he edged a sharp chance which Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming took low down at slip and the disappointment was palpable as the Surrey man made his way back to the pavilion. Stewart's fifty had come from just 58 balls and included eight fours and during a morning session in which England on the whole had dominated, it appeared to be a decent but possibly unremarkable attempt to re-establish his credentials for the opener's berth. Yet as England subsided to another trademark collapse with a rash of wickets falling after Lunch, the value of Stewart's innings was doubly underlined and just how important it will become in the context of another low scoring match remains to be seen. Whatever the outcome, it should at least give Stewart's many critics some pause for thought and cause them to consider whether England can dispense with a batsmen who has displayed such tenacity, guts and sheer character under the most intensive pressure?