Oval Test: The steward who stumped Stewart

Imagine if Sourav Ganguly is refused entry in the Hospitality Box of the Eden Gardens, or if Sachin Tendulkar is denied the same at the Wankhede Stadium. Well, if you are Alec Stewart then you would know exactly how it feels.

The former England skipper was denied entry into the hospitality box at The Oval on the first day of the fourth Test between India and England. The irony goes to the extreme considering the fact that Stewart was also the captain of the local county Surrey and also has a gate named after him at the ground.

An over-zealous steward who reportedly had no knowledge of cricket stopped Stewart while he was on his way to the Hospitality Box at the ground. Stewart was rather amazed at the incident. "I can't believe that this has happened at my own ground. I mean how bad can it get," a miffed Stewart said after taking lunch. "It is the first time that someone has stopped me here."

The incident was caught on the Sky Sports cameras and it was evident that Stewart could not figure out why the young steward wouldn't let him in despite a permission badge. Stewart looked bemused but was relieved when one of the senior stewards, standing not far away, allowed him in.