Cricket: STEWART: AGE IS NO BARRIER; TALE OF TWO CITIES FOR COE.

Byline: MYLES HODGSON

ALEC STEWART returns to one of his favourite Test arenas tomorrow in the familiar situation of having to justify his role as veteran wicketkeeper-batsman in England's new-look squad. As England prepare to field one of their youngest ever attacks,alikelihood which was increased by the loss of allrounder Andrew Flintoff after he failed to recover from a troublesome shoulder problem, Stewart represents the other end of the spectrum at theageof 40.

His call-up has prompted the usual criticism and forthright opinions, most notably from former England legend Ian Botham, who has questioned the wisdom of choosing Stewart's experience ahead of the promise represented by emerging players like Nottinghamshire's Chris Readand James Foster of Essex.

It is a situation Stewart has visited more than once during a career spanning 13 years and 126 Tests, and one which is clearly beginning to rankle with his normally assured demeanour prior to aLord's Test.

``All I've done is make myself available and the selectors have picked me and then people have offered various opinions,'' said Stewart.

``I've never had a problem with criticism as long as it's constructive and well-balanced and some of it has been and some hasn't, but it's not the first time this has happened and probably won't be the last.

``There's been a few interesting comments made about my age. The age thing is an easy line, it's an easy paragraph and it's an easy comment but there's no written rule to say that when you get to a certain age you have to finish.

``If you're playing well enough and the selectors are happy enough with you and they pick you, you go out there and do your best.

``There's always been competition for places in my career and the selectors pick what they believe is the best side to win the game or the series, but also to have one eye on the future,'' said Stewart. ``There is no written rule that says that when you reach 40 that you have to pack up or you're too old to do your job.

``I keep going because of the pride of playing for England, the pride in my performance, the love of the game and the enjoyment I get from playing, and they're the things that were the same when I was 21 as Iamnow.''

Even at 40 Stewart has still not set a date for his possible retirement and is focus sing purely on maintaining an impressive Lord's record, where he averages 48.10 from his 18 Test appearances at the venue.

``I've never thought about retiring,'' stressed Stewart. ``I still believe that if you're picking purely on ability then I'm the best in the country and I still have the desire to succeed. Until the selectors or I believe differently I'm going to carry on that way.''

``I'm the person who judges myself more than anyone. If you miss a chance or play a bad shot at the age of 40 it's because you're too old - if you make the samemistakeat 28 it's regarded as just a mistake. That's how things are but you just have to take it on the chin.''

COLLATED SUMMARIES: Triangular Tournament Dambulla Pakistan 203- 9 Innings Complete (Shoaib Malik 74) v New Zealand 181 Pakistan beat New Zealand by 22 runs National Cricket League - Division TwoThe Grange Scottish Saltires 206-10 (JC Kent 85,D R Hewson 4-25) v Derbyshire Scorpions 139- 4 Derbyshire beat Scotland by 6 wkts (D/L Method) TODAY: (11.00 unless stated)Third One Day International (1 day) St Lucia: West Indies v Australia (15.35)Frizzell County Championship - Division One (day 1 of 4) Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey Grace Road: Leicestershire v Middlesex Horsham: Sussex v Nottinghamshire Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Kent Frizzell County Championship - Division Two (day 1of 4) Riverside: Durham v Derbyshire The Rose Bowl: Hampshire v Somerset New Road: Worcestershire v Gloucestershire Headingley: Yorkshire v Glamorgan Other Match (day 1of 3) Racecourse: Durham UCCE v LancashireKEY all-rounder Andrew Flintoffhas been ruled out of England's first Test against Zimbabwe after failing to shrug off the shoulder injury which has plagued him for the last week.

The Lancashire star was included in England's 13-man squad for the opening Test at Lord's, which begins tomorrow, but was always rated as ``a major doubt'' and has failed to respond to treatment.

Flintoff suffered the injury while scoring a century against Middlesex at Lord's last week when he was hit on the right shoulder while batting and was forced to miss Lancashire's drawn championship match against Essex.

His withdrawal is a further blow to an already inexperienced attack and means Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath,one of three uncapped players called into the squad, will make his debut.

OLYMPICS: Sebastian Coe believes it is most definitely the best of times for London to make an Olympic bid and sees the tussle with Paris to host the 2012 games as the ultimate tale of two cities.

The former Olympic champ believes the trans-Channel rivals offer the most lucrative sites for the world's biggest sporting event and will eclipse New York and other contenders.

Paris are expected to officially confirm their candidacy in the next few days, joining London and New York,as well as Toronto, Leipzig and Istanbul in the running.

``London can offer its name and a deep-rooted culture of sports,'' Coe said. ``When we set our mind to it and do it properly it can also offer a high level of organisation.''

CAPTION(S):

OUT: Andy Flintoff; OPTIMISTIC: Coe