DOB: 23.8.72 County: Surrey Test debut: v Australia, Edgbaston 1997 Left hand batsman, right arm medium pace swing bowler

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.

Normally an opening batsman, he was handed an unfamiliar role at number three but played with skill, courage and determination, most notably in his brilliant matchwinning innings of 173 not out at Headingley and was later chosen as England's Man of the Series.

Also batted well in the Tests in India, hitting 51 and 92 in Ahmedabad - despite battling a stomach upset in the second innings.