Alec Stewart is considering an offer from Surrey to become an ambassador for the county following his decision to end a 22-year career by announcing his retirement from all first-class cricket.

The 40-year-old wicketkepeer-batsman made the expected announcement just a week after his emotional end to Test cricket, when he helped England square the series with victory over South Africa in the final npower Test at the Oval.

He is already thought to be considering various offers for the next stage of his life, which are thought to include media work and the possibility of sports hospitality, and has now been offered the chance to extend the Stewart family association with Surrey past this summer.

Having followed his father Micky to The Oval, Surrey have now offered him the chance to be an ambassador - a role which could also develop into him coaching the emerging youngsters at Surrey's Academy.

''Playing for Surrey throughout my career has been a fantastic privilege,'' enthused Stewart. ''I've been lucky enough to play with some great players and particularly to be a part of the huge success the club has achieved over the last eight years.

''I look forward to contributing to Surrey's continued success both on and off the pitch in years to come.'' Last night's announcement follows weeks of soul-searching by Stewart as he weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of continuing his playing career, although Surrey had not offered him an extended playing contract.

He admitted that he did not know if he could continue to motivate himself without having the goal of an England career to strive for, claiming recently: ''All I've known since I left cricket is playing cricket so moving into a new career is a challenge for me.

''I have to weigh all that up - I have to decide once my England career is over what my challenges and goals are going to be to continue playing.

''I've always set my sights on trying to play at the highest level and once that's gone I've then got to work out if just playing county cricket without the bonus of playing international cricket is worth it and I've got to ask myself why am I still playing?''

Since making his Surrey debut in 1981, Stewart has helped them win the Benson and Hedges Cup twice, the Sunday League and the NatWest Trophy once and three championships and scored 26,165 runs at an average of 40.06 in 447 first-class matches.

It is that committed service over two decades which has persuaded Surrey to offer him another contract in a different role, although Stewart's original plan to play on for another season appears to have been blocked because of the emergence of Jonathan Batty as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

''Alec has shown tremendous loyalty and service to both England and Surrey County Cricket Club over the past two decades,'' said Paul Sheldon, Surrey's chief executive. ''He will undoubtedly be remembered as the greatest Surrey player of modern times and we're discussing with Alec a new role which would involve using his considerable skills as an ambassador for the club.''

Stewart's departure from the playing staff follows the decision by former England batsman Ian Ward to also leave Surrey after limited first-team opportunities.