Stewart back to wicketkeeping for one-day series

The combined duties of wicketkeeper, specialist batsman and captaincy were considered too taxing for the last two games of the Ashes Test series. But England chairman of selectors David Graveney says Stewart has no concerns about doing all three in limited-overs cricket.

Lancashire's Warren Hegg took over as wicketkeeper for the fourth and fifth Ashes Tests as Stewart promoted himself to open the innings in a bid to enliven the England challenge.

``I don't envisage it being a problem,'' Graveney said here Thursday.

``The way he's deployed at (county side) Surrey, unless there's exceptional circumstances he doesn't keep in any four-day games but he opens the batting and keeps wicket in limited-overs cricket. He doesn't mind.''

Nevertheless, Graveney said Stewart would be left out of the England side to play Queensland here Friday in a day-night game to give him time to rest after the draining Test series. England lost 3-1 despite a resurgence in the last two matches.

``With the intensity of the last two Test matches ... he just needs a couple of days to refocus his mind,'' Graveney said.

He said the switch from day cricket to playing under lights was unlikely to cause a problem for the Englishmen, not as accustomed to day-night cricket as Australia.

``Probably our players have less exposure to floodlit cricket than most,'' Graveney said.

``We don't have the permanent structures that you do here. The concept of having huge floodlights at Lords might make a few people shake.

``But I don't think that will be a disadvantage. I think the players will tell you, playing under lights is a better light ... than actually the end of an innings in which the lights are not switched on.''

England will also play world champions Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Monday.