Stewart believes Strauss' recall has come too soon (Getty)

Alec Stewart says he is amazed that Andrew Strauss has won back his place in the England reckoning so quickly.

The 30-year-old missed the tour to Sri Lanka but made the final warm-up match before the first test in New Zealand.

Strauss took Middlesex team-mate Owais Shah's place in the side, but former England keeper Stewart is not sure.

"I'm staggered that he [Strauss] has become a better player sitting on the sofa in December whilst England battled it out in Sri Lanka," said Stewart.

"I'm a big Andrew Strauss fan but I believe to get back in the side you have got to go out and perform.

"I rate him but I think he would admit he is fortunate to get back quite so quickly when you have got the likes of [Mark] Ramprakash, who was told to go and produce at county level, and has gone and done that."