Butcher supports experience

Butcher and Thorpe were key to England's Caribbean success

Mark Butcher has endorsed England's decision to stick with their veteran middle order against New Zealand.

With a combined age of 102, Butcher, Graham Thorpe and Nasser Hussain were key to securing a 3-0 series win in the West Indies last month.

"There are a lot of tense and difficult situations that appear in Test matches, as in the West Indies," said Butcher.

"If it hadn't been for Nasser, Graham Thorpe and myself things might have turned out a bit different."

The selectors resisted calls to drop Hussain after 95 Tests, but included another batsman, Paul Collingwood, in the 13-man squad.

England are unlikely to make unforced changes but I still don't believe Andy Caddick is finished Alec Stewart

Butcher acknowledged that a fully-fit pace attack played a major part in securing England's first series win in the Caribbean for 36 years.

"Being able to take 20 wickets in three of the four Test matches was a huge factor - it's been an area where we've struggled a bit in the past, particularly overseas," Butcher added.

"The emergence of [Steve] Harmison, [Simon] Jones, [Matthew] Hoggard and [Andrew] Flintoff as a force of strike bowlers was absolutely vital for us.

"The reaction we have had has been magnificent and it's up to us to keep performing in that manner to give English cricket the lift it's been looking for for many years."

Former skipper Alec Stewart backed the decision to stick with experience and believes Andrew Caddick could still return to the side this summer.

Caddick, 35, was out of action with a back injury for the whole of last year.

"Of course, England are unlikely to make unforced changes to a winning side but I still don't believe Andy Caddick is finished," said Stewart.

"You only have to look at the number of injuries last summer to see what can happen, and Caddie is one of the best."