113 not out v Sri Lanka, Only Test, Lord's, 1991

It took Stewart 14 Tests to reach three figures

Stewart did not make it into three figures until his 14th Test, but his century was key in a 137-run victory over a side not considered worthy of more than one Test.

In humid conditions at Lord's, an England side that had just tied a five-match series with West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals.

But Stewart, batting first wicket down, kept his head to hit an unbeaten 113, the vast majority of England's first innings 282.

Helped by some good luck and overcoming a rain-hit first evening, he shared a 63-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Jack Russell, the man with whom he would tussle for the wicket-keeper's gloves for the next five years.

190 v Pakistan, 1st Test, Edgbaston, 1992

Stewart's highest Test score came in a match ruined by rain, at the start of an attritional series against Pakistan.

With the first day at Edgbaston washed out, the tourists continued their first innings into the fourth day.

Just 11 wickets fell in the entire match but Stewart scored the best of four centuries, staying at the crease for just under six hours.

118 & 143 v West Indies, 4th Test, Bridgetown, 1993/94

The West Indies pace attack were conquered twice in Bridgetown

In arguably his finest match for England, Stewart became the first Englishman to score centuries in both innings of a Test against West Indies.

Stewart weathered a fearsome pace quartet of Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Winston Benjamin and Kenny Benjamin to share an opening stand of 171 with Mike Atherton after the tourists had been put into bat.

Graham Thorpe was his partner in the second innings as England compiled a total big enough to avoid a series sweep, gaining a 208-run victory.

164 v South Africa, 3rd Test, Old Trafford, 1998

England were 1-0 down in the series against South Africa going into the third Test and Stewart was under fire as captain.

Things looked even worse as England were bowled out for 183 in reply to the tourists' 552 and forced to follow on.

But Stewart rose to the occasion in a second innings where Mike Atherton, his partner in a third-wicket stand of 226, was the only other batsman to pass 50.

Stewart was at the crease for two minutes short of seven hours, setting up a draw that turned the series around, resulting in England's first victorious five-Test series at home for 13 years.

107 v Australia, 4th Test, Melbourne, 1998/99

Stewart's finest hour as England captain was down in part to his first innings century.

Freed of the gloves after strugging with the bat for much of the series, Stewart finally scored a ton against Australia at the 23rd time of asking.

England were 4-2 in the third over after the loss of Atherton and Nasser Hussain, but Stewart hit back in a 119-run partnership with Mark Ramprakash, the only other batsman to reach a half-century.

Stewart took just 142 balls over his ton, but it was a magnificent bowling performance from Darren Gough and Dean Headley that secured a famous 12-run win.

105 v West Indies, 3rd Test, Old Trafford, 2000

Stewart's 100th Test brought another 100

Stewart's ability to rise to the occasion was proven beyond doubt as he became the fourth player to score a century in his 100th Test, coincidentally for the patriotic batsman on the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

But more importantly for England, Stewart rescued England from a precarious 17-3 after Courtney Walsh had knocked over the top order.

Stewart shared a 179-run partnership with Marcus Trescothick, allowing the debutant opener to drop anchor while he made merry against the tourists' back-up bowlers.