Butcher remains doubtful

Hear the third Test squad announcement live on BBC Radio Five Live at 0930 BST on Sunday

England's Mark Butcher remains a serious doubt for the third Test against West Indies after pulling out of Surrey's squad in the Twenty20.

He was named in the squad for the finals but ruled himself out ahead of the semi-final against Lancashire.

England name the third Test squad on Sunday and Butcher has refused to put a timescale on his return.

Butcher told BBC Radio Five Live: "I've given up trying to project when I'm going to be back."

Butcher, who originally injured his thigh in July, suffered whiplash in a car crash before the second Test and aggravated the thigh problem lifting a box at home a week later.

He added: "I tore a thigh muscle and then tore it a second time. I'm having to err a little bit on the side of caution because they can just keep recurring."

In Butcher's absence Robert Key has staked his claim for a place in the side with a double century at Lord's as England won the first two Tests against the tourists.

"It's not irritating that's just the nature of sport," Butcher added.

The Old Trafford pitches are said to be turning, which means England could select a second spinner to play alongside Ashley Giles.

Worcestershire's Gareth Batty is favourite although Lancashire's Gary Keedy could get the nod at his home ground.

Meanwhile, West Indies are sweating on spinner Omari Banks ahead of the Test, which starts on Thursday.

Banks is suffering from flu and played no part in the final day of the tourist's match against Derbyshire on Saturday.

Academy: Cricket in the Butcher genes

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Possible squad: MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), RWT Key (Kent), GP Thorpe (Surrey), A Flintoff (Lancashire), GO Jones (Kent, wkt), AF Giles (Warwickshire), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SJ Harmison (Durham), JM Anderson (Lancashire), SP Jones (Glamorgan), GJ Batty (Worcestershire), G Keedy (Lancashire).