Aussie has last laugh as hoax 'Stewart' dupes the BBC

Thrilled by England's consolation win over Australia in the final Ashes test in Sydney, BBC Radio 4 was understandably keen to talk to one of the victors, and so made contact with "Alec Stewart".

"How are you, Alec?" Garry Richardson inquired by telephone from London. "It was a very good way to finish."

The reply came in a voice that sounded nothing like the veteran Surrey man: "Yeah, it was tremendous."

Richardson continued: "Have you learned from this, you and the England team?"

The reply was: "Australia are a bloody good team."

Richardson persisted manfully: "Absolutely. And now the World Cup – are you looking forward to that?"

Reply: "Yeah, we think we're up for it now." Upon which Richardson, guessing the awful truth, wound up matters with: "Alec, many thanks for coming on the programme."

While listeners were curious that the chat with "Stewart" had not lasted very long, Richardson knew he had to cut it short.

"It very quickly became obvious that I wasn't speaking to Alec Stewart," he said after the show. "I just had to terminate the interview as quickly as possible."

The BBC said programme staff were given the wrong number and the Australian who received the call had convinced them he was the player.

"I don't think that was Alec Stewart – I think it was somebody doing an impression of him," Richardson laughed after hanging up. "I think the Aussies were so annoyed that we've beaten them, someone's picked up Alec's phone and done an impression of him."