Sydney: Alec Stewart became England's third-highest scorer in Test cricket as he led the way for another encouraging session for England in the final Ashes Test against Australia on Friday.

Stewart, 39 and in the twilight of his 126-Test career, moved past Geoff Boycott's 8,114 runs as England reached lunch on the second day on 341 for 7.

The team elder, diagnosed with chicken pox, batted positively before Andy Bichel bowled him off his pads for 71 nearing lunch.

Stewart batted for 117 minutes comprising 86 balls and hit 15 boundaries in his enterprising knock

He left the Sydney Cricket Ground to a rapturous applause from the capacity crowd, with the strong probability that he was playing his last Test here after four Ashes tours Down Under.

The Surrey wicket-keeper took his Test career tally to 8,149 runs. Only Graham Gooch (8,900) and David Gower (8,231) have scored more runs for England.

Stewart made light of his illness to take the dominant role in a sixth-wicket partnership of 92 with Crawley.

He reached his third half-century of the series with a four off leg spinner Stuart MacGill.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Gibbs, Smith, make mincemeat of Pak, SA 445 for 3
'It is between selectors and me to decide when I retire'
'I'm lot closer to full fitness now than I was for Ashes'