Having been an England regular for almost three years, Butcher was dropped following the 1999-2000 tour to South Africa and his chances of a recall appeared remote at the start of last summer.
But injuries to Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan forced the selectors to look for experienced cover and Butcher found himself back in the side for the Ashes series against Australia.
He was handed an unfamiliar role at number three, but played with skill and determination, most notably in a match-winning innings of 173 not out at Headingley and was named as England's Man of the Series.
Also batted solidly in India, making 51 and 92 in Ahmedabad despite being troubled by a stomach upset in the second innings, but only managed one half century in New Zealand after cracking a thumb in the opening Test.
