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But former defence minister Alec Shelbrooke said it was "appalling" that Mr Hart had "destroyed the sanctity of the whips office" by publishing "very private information" in a book.

There are new coaches and new captains looking forward to the challenges which lie ahead but, at The Oval, there is unlikely to be any change to the approach that has served them so well, even though former director of cricket Alec Stewart will now occupy a more backseat role.

"I've always looked to strengthen our squad straight after we've won the Championship," said Surrey's Alec Stewart after adding Yorkshire fast bowler Fisher to their squad in October.

Smiley has previously been portrayed on the big and small screens by actors including Gary Oldman, Alec Guinness, Denholm Elliott and Rupert Davies.

Tragically, the world knows Hutchins almost solely as the cinematographer who was fatally shot in October 2021 by a live bullet round discharged from a gun held by film star Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal for a scene in “Rust,” a low-budget western.