article_snippet.sent: Alec Stewart stands at the KIA Oval ahead of a Surrey team photo shoot on Thursday .
article_snippet.sent: Alec Stewart lines up with Surrey players for the team photo at the KIA Oval .
article_snippet.sent: But Stewart, who also spoke highly of the early impression Kevin Pietersen has made on Kevin Pietersen return to the Surrey team, remains a respected figure in the game.
article_snippet.sent: ’ Stewart (centre front)
article_snippet.sent: poses in the Surrey team photo ahead of the start of the County Championship season .
article_snippet.sent: Stewart was a wicketkeeper-batsman for England.
article_snippet.sent: Here Stewart looks on as Australia's Steve Waugh plays a shot towards England fielder Graham Thorpe in the fifth test of an Ashes clash at Edgbaston in 1993 .
article_snippet.sent: Stewart is carried by team-mates Steve Harmison (left) and Andrew Flintoff, after playing his final Test match, at the Oval in September 2003 against South Africa .
article_snippet.sent: ’ Stewart, who led England in 15 Tests and scored nearly 8,500 runs, was effusive in his praise of Pietersen, whose chances of a surprise England recall increased from highly unlikely to merely improbable following Kevin Pietersen.
article_snippet.sent: Kevin Pietersen will feature for Stewart's Surrey outfit in this year's county championships and the former wicket-keeper batsman believes the 34-year-old could still make a comeback at international level .