A wicketkeeper slamming 87 from 92 balls would usually suggest a blistering, Gilchristian counter-attack, but Alec Stewart's effort at Trent Bridge owed as much to luck as judgement. As our graph shows, Stewart was in control of only 63% of his shots, an inordinately low ratio for such a productive innings. Contemptuous drives were mixed with streaky edges and French cuts - not to mention the let-off he had when Virender Sehwag's catch was referred to the third umpire. And unusually, Stewart was more at home against spin. He swept and smacked Harbhajan Singh for 30 runs off 26 balls, and was in control of 69% of his shots off him. Against the seamers that figure was only 60%.

Stewart's role in the England side has changed more than David Bowie's image, and maybe now his calling is as a lower middle-order chancer. He certainly has the strokeplay to punish anything loose: here he rifled 49 off 32 balls that were either too full or too short.

Stewart was only 13 runs away from becoming the first Englishman to score a Test century against every country England have played. He may never get a better chance.

Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com.

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