ENGLAND legend Alec Stewart's wife has died after a 12-year battle with breast cancer. The ex-captain stepped down as Surrey's Director of Cricket just months before Lynn died to spend more time with his family. This morning at The Oval Surrey, where Surrey are playing Hampshire in the country championship, flags were flying at half mast before the club chair Oli Slipper shared a heartfelt tribute. He said: "The sincere condolences of everyone at Surrey County Cricket Club are with Alec and the whole Stewart family. "Our very best wishes are with the family and we will continue to offer any support to them that we are able to. "In the meantime, we ask that people respect their privacy at this difficult time." Stewart took a leave of absence in 2023 to care for Lynn, saying that he wanted to give her and his family some more time. He said: "Since November 2013, I have given this job my total commitment and it has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of the greatest cricket club in the world. "However, the job is not one that you can just leave at the ground, as it demands 24/7 attention. "As people may know, my wife has been battling cancer since 2013 and I want to give her, and my family, more of my time over the coming years than this job allows." In an interview last year, he mentioned his wife's battle with secondary breast cancer and that she was undergoing chemotherapy. He told the Telegraph in October: "There are bits and pieces that have crept up recently. It’s never going away. It’s managing it. "That is, there are some goodish times, and then the last four weeks have been tough for her. And then it’s just putting faith in the oncologist we’ve had from day one, who’s been brilliant." The cricket legend also tragically lost his friend and former team-mate Graham Thorpe last year.