Butcher: flying home after another injury © Getty Images Enlarge

Mark Butcher has been ruled out of England's tour of South Africa, having failed to recover from his sprained wrist.

Robert Key could maintain his spot at No 3, a move which Butcher fears could threaten his Test career. Key, who was Butcher's stand-in throughout England's 4-0 home series victory over West Indies, made a decent 41 in the second innings at Newlands in his first first-class appearance since September.

But Key could be overlooked if the selectors prefer to go with Ian Bell. Bell, who played one Test last year and scored 70 against West Indies, will fly out this week as the left-hander Butcher flies home. But Bell expects to be behind Key in the pecking order.

"Obviously he deserves it. I'll be there as back-up and to try to help out in any way I can," Bell told BBC Sport online. "I hope I'll be ready and can get myself in some form."

To add to England's woes, Andrew Flintoff is not yet out of the woods - after tearing an abdominal muscle at Cape Town, he has still to prove he is fit to bowl in the fourth Test which starts on Thursday. But he could be employed just as a batsman if bowling is too much at practice on Tuesday, and the swing bowler James Anderson could be called up for his first Test appearance of the series.