Butcher is determined that his appointment as Surrey captain should not herald international retirement and it would be unwise to totally write off a player whose Test career has already defied convention.

Butcher is one of few players at Michael Vaughan's disposal to have enjoyed his finest moment against the Australians - his unbeaten 173 in the 2001 fourth Test victory at Headingley was roundly applauded on both sides.

Steve Waugh and company could afford to do so of course, already leading the series 3-0.

While there is no such thing as an easy 173* against Australia, it should have been obvious to everyone that this innings could hardly qualify as proof of true international class.

Bizarrely, the one exception was the man himself and, buoyed by new-found confidence, Butcher made the almost immediate transition from failure to star on the Test stage.

He had, like his once-capped father Alan, started out as an opening batsman but failed to convince when partnering Michael Atherton following a 1997 debut.

After a fair crack of the whip including a forgettable Ashes series he became a fringe player for the national team, capable of runs at county level but unconvincing on the big stage.

Headingley 2001 changed all of that and he subsequently settled quickly into the number-three role, making big scores against India, Australia and Sri Lanka in a memorable 18 months.

A strong tour of the West Indies in 2004 meant that Butcher helped start the ball rolling on the success of this England team but a modest series at home to New Zealand meant his place was already under threat when whiplash sustained in a car crash ruled him out of first Test at home to the Windies.

Kent batsman Robert Key stepped in to score a double century and though it was hardly a flawless knock double centurions at Lord's do not get dropped the following week.

Butcher returned to the team for two Tests in South Africa but made less than 100 runs in four innings and began this summer on the outside looking in, a position not helped by missing the start to the county season with a wrist injury.

Butcher is at pains to point out that batsmen do not peak until their early 30s but with the likes of Key, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen also in contention, the inconsistent left-hander will not be afforded too many more chances.