Butcher questions Clarke omission

Surrey star Clarke is becoming an extremely proficient batsmen

Surrey captain Mark Butcher believes Rikki Clarke should be in the England squad for the second Test against Pakistan starting on Thursday.

Former England star Butcher says the 24-year-old all-rounder has made massive progress in the past few weeks.

He said: "Rikki keeps getting overlooked for England squads.

"I think they might be crying out for a dual-purpose player like him at Old Trafford, particularly if they want to play two spinners."

Clarke gave another demonstration of his batting skills with an explosive 79 not out from just 42 balls in his county's win over Gloucestershire in Monday's Twenty-20 quarter-final at Bristol.

He hasn't been downhearted about not being included in the squads Mark Butcher

He played two Tests and 17 one-day internationals in 2003 and 2004 but has been overlooked since by England coach Duncan Fletcher and the selectors, with Jamie Dalrymple called up ahead of him for the latest squad.

But the figures show that while his batting is stronger than ever, he has taken just 18 wickets in the Championship, at an average of 38.05.

Butcher said: "I can't praise him enough at the moment and, as far as I am concerned, he has just got to keep going the way he is at the moment to get recognition.

"Quite rightly he has ignored anything that has gone on. He hasn't been upset, he hasn't been downhearted about not being included in the squads.

"He's just concentrating on getting his head down and doing a good job for the team. If you do that more often than not, you are going to do good things for yourself as well."