Age concern as Stewart defies years by batting on

England's most capped cricketer resolved yesterday, to Australian astonishment, that he intends to continue playing after the Ashes series. Indeed, Alec Stewart gave every indication of being Buzz Lightyear, going on to infinity and beyond, as it was announced that he was being brought back into the Test side at the age of 39 to replace a 22-year-old who performed admirably in his absence.

"You just carry on like I've always done and when it's time to call it a day I will," said Stewart. "If the enjoyment goes there's no point in doing it. That's no different to how it's always been."

Australians were confounded that Stewart had regained his place as wicketkeeper from James Foster, who played in the Fourth Test in Melbourne, where he kept with assurance and batted doggedly. Stewart missed the match because of severe inflammation in his right hand, which caused pain every time he caught the ball ­ not something, his critics would say, that he has done often this winter.

They cannot understand the point in selecting a man who will be 40 in three months' time for a side which is 4-0 down, especially as he has produced a string of indifferent wicketkeeping displays this winter. Their perplexity, which is shared by many English observers, is merely enhanced by the fact that they are showing so little remorse about the imminent removal from Australia's side of Steve Waugh, one of the all-time great batsmen and their most successful captain.

Stewart said he had no thoughts of calling it a day despite the hammering the side have received. "No, I've already had seven of them against Australia," he said, as a reminder of how unsuccessful he has been in pursuing the Ashes.

He has played a record 125 Tests for England (only four others have appeared more for other countries) and 159 one-day internationals, amassing a total of 12,468 international runs. The veteran Surrey player has been selected for his fourth World Cup next month. Contrary to what was reported in some quarters, he said that he is prepared to play the controversial match in Zimbabwe if it goes ahead. Before Adam Gilchrist, of Australia, came along a solid case could be made for Stewart being the most prodigious wicketkeeper-batsman of all, which is why England are reluctant to wave him goodbye.

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, said the key issue was for England to pick a side to try to win the Fifth Test. "He's a proven world-class all-rounder and at the end of the day do you leave out a world-class all-rounder. We had to balance the side out."

Stewart has been balancing England out for 13 years as specialist opener or middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper, and rarely has his place come under threat. It did so when he chose to miss the Indian tour last winter but he was recalled after Foster was injured and promptly scored a century.

Fletcher gave some hope to Foster for next summer by saying that Stewart's 12-month central contract did not guarantee him a place. But at £100,000 a throw the ECB will not be anxious to waste too many of those.

The hand ailment which forced Stewart's withdrawal at the MCG seems less severe than it first sounded. Stewart said that it was not synovitis as initially diagnosed ("but something else with a Latin name") and had improved with rest. It had become progressively worse this winter, which may explain his poor form with the gloves.

"I don't make excuses," he said. "It's there and I'll leave it at that. You miss some, everyone does, but you keep on trying to do your best. You must make your judgement."

Despite Australian scepticism, there was a sentimental case for letting Stewart go out with dignity at Sydney, his favourite ground after Lord's. But the vultures will probably be gathering shortly after the Fifth Test has ended, not knowing whether to assemble in his dressing room or Waugh's. No matter what Stewart wants or how he does in the World Cup, Buzz Lightyear has more chance of playing in the first Test of the next English summer.