Butcher return put back to August

Butcher's slow rehabilitation from injury has been frustrating

Mark Butcher's return from wrist injury has been put back to August, but the batsman is refusing to rule himself out of playing in the Ashes.

The left-hander has not featured for Surrey or England this season after injuring himself against South Africa and having surgery early in the year.

"August is looking like the best I can hope for," Butcher told BBC Sport.

"I had hoped to be back playing by May, but things can move on. The Ashes still has to be in the back of my mind."

The first Test gets under way at Lord's on 21 July, and Butcher's slow recovery has seen him make more trips to the clinic than the practise nets.

I just have to stay positive and hope that I get to play some cricket before the end of the summer Mark Butcher

"I went to see my specialist on Tuesday to have an injection. The problem I have now is the swelling from the operation," he explained.

"The ligament damage has repaired but the wrist has not got back to normal as far as the swelling is concerned.

"The injection seems to be working and it's starting to look a little bit more like my hand now, but I have to keep a splint on it for another week.

"And then I have to start the arduous business of getting the exercises done, getting strength back into it and getting mobility back before I can even think about practising again."

Butcher, England's first choice number three six months ago, has seen the likes of Ian Bell, Rob Key and Kevin Pietersen lay claim to his spot.

The 32-year-old is hoping he can force his way back into England's Test team as in 2001, when he capitalised on injuries to team-mates to score a memorable century at Headingley.

"There couldn't have been a worse year for this to happen, but I just have to stay positive and hope everything goes well and that I get to play some cricket before the end of the summer," he added.

"And then who knows? One thing Ashes series have taught me over the years is that there always tends to be injuries and losses of form and that others are in with a shout.

"That's how I got back into the side in 2001, through other people's misfortune. Without wishing that on anybody, there's always the possibility."