(LONDON) Mark Butcher faces a battle over the next week to be fit for the 3rd npower Test against Sri Lanka while also battling with England's hierarchy about disciplinary action imposed upon him.

As the selectors meet to discuss the squad for next week's final Test at Old Trafford, Butcher's name is likely to be prominent as he attempts to shrug off a knee problem which is expected to need exploratory surgery in the near future.

But he is also likely to be the main topic of conversation within the England and Wales Cricket Board offices at Lord's after he refused to accept a fine levied for his controversial comments about Sri Lankan seamer Ruchira Perera.

Butcher's claimed that Perera, who was reported for having a suspect action by the umpires during the drawn 1st Test at Lord's, ``throws it at you'' in his column for the Croydon Advertiser.

He said that Perera ``definitely straightens his arm'', and added: ``It's not so bad when the ball is pitched up but when he bowls short, he just runs up and throws it at you - I can't believe someone gets away with it!''

Those comments were investigated by the ECB's Discipline and Standing Committee, headed by Gerard Elias QC, who elected to impose a fine on Butcher believed to be in the region of around £1,500.

But after consulting family and friends and taking Adam Gilchrist's recent reprimand by the Australian Cricket Board for calling Muttiah Muralitharan a ``chucker'' into account, Butcher decided against paying the fine and now faces a disciplinary hearing in the next fortnight.

His difference of opinion with the ECB is not Butcher's only problem at present as he attempts to shake off a left knee problem sustained during the innings victory over Sri Lanka at Edgbaston last week.

He has already visited specialist Derek Bickerstaff in Sheffield, who has treated Darren Gough's knee problems this season, and been given the all clear to join up with the rest of the squad in Manchester next Tuesday.

But he admits it has left him no more than ``50-50'' and he will be monitored by England's backroom staff when he turns up with the rest of the squad.

Should he fail to pass his fitness test he will undergo exploratory surgery, which will sideline him for anything up to a month but at least will ensure his availability for the 1st Test against India at Lord's on July 25.

``I'm going up to Old Trafford with a view to playing,'' revealed Butcher. ``But I would say I am no more than 50-50 at the moment.''

``The damage is in the joint between the two bones and it needs to be cleared up so, if I played in the next Test, I would have it done in the break between this series and the Test series that follows with India.''

Even with Butcher's fitness in doubt, the selectors are unlikely to make any changes from the 14-man squad that contested the previous Test in Birmingham.

Hampshire's John Crawley is the obvious replacement for Butcher if he fails a fitness test, having been overlooked for Birmingham to allow the selection of left-arm spinner Ashley Giles on his home ground.

With Muralitharan expected to favour the conditions at Old Trafford, where he enjoyed considerable success during his two years as Lancashire's overseas player, Crawley's reputation as a good player of spin may also prove useful.

Glamorgan fast bowler Simon Jones may also come into the equation, particularly after coach Duncan Fletcher dropped heavy hints at Edgbaston that ``we're going to have to have a look at him soon.''

Probable squad: N Hussain (Essex, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), MA Butcher (Surrey), MP Vaughan (Yorkshire), GP Thorpe (Surrey), JP Crawley (Hampshire), AJ Stewart (Surrey, wkt), A Flintoff (Lancashire), DG Cork (Derbyshire), AF Giles (Warwickshire), AJ Tudor (Surrey), AR Caddick (Somerset), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SP Jones (Glamorgan).

7 Jun, 2002