Butcher hoping to be fit for third Test

Surrey and England batsman, Mark Butcher, saw a knee specialist in Sheffield yesterday, who ruled out any acute cartilage damage on the player's left knee.

The specialist is happy for Butcher to play in the final npower Test Match against Sri Lanka next week at Old Trafford so long as he feels fit. Butcher will receive treatment to the knee in the lead-up to the game and its condition will be closely monitored by the England management team in the hope that he will be able to play.

If Butcher is not passed fit for the match, he will undergo an immediate arthoscopy. The recovery time for this surgery is 3-4 weeks, meaning that he would be available for the first npower Test Match against India which starts on 25 July at Lord's.