Alec Stewart, the man who was at the other end when Ben Hollioake played his most famous innings, said today that he had cried his eyes out at Hollioake's funeral in Perth. "There were tears. I'm not ashamed to say I cried my eyes out," Stewart told the BBC. "Yes, he was a fine cricketer, but it's Ben the friend, Ben the person that I've known for coming up 10 years, that is the reason I'm here today."

Wearing a dark suit, a grey shirt and a black tie, Stewart talked about Hollioake's international debut at Lord's in 1997, when Hollioake, then only 19, hit a matchwinning 63 and Stewart, 15 years his senior and his county captain at the time, was thoroughly overshadowed.

"I was batting at the other end and he smashed Australia everywhere. Sixty-odd in 40-odd balls. I stood there in amazement and awe at the fella. I've always said, he's the most naturally talented player I've ever played with."

Stewart, one of 10 current Surrey players to attend the funeral, went on: "I could talk forever about his cricket, but as a person, there's not many better. It's easy to say those things in circumstances like this but that's from my heart. He was a true friend, a true mate and it's a very, very sad time."

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