In a remarkable twist on the old club versus country conundrum England No 3 Mark Butcher could lose his international berth because he can't get a game for his county Surrey.

Butcher scored 124 against Australia at the SCG in his last competitive match but still failed to make Surrey's star-studded XI against Lancashire last week. If he is similarly overlooked for Wednesday's Championship match against Warwickshire it will leave him alarmingly short of first-class cricket ahead of the 1st Test against Zimbabwe, starting at Lord's on May 22.

"Mark needs to have played sufficient county cricket for him to be available for selection," confirmed David Graveney, chairman of selectors.

Butcher is understandably reported to be furious with the situation as he's forced to sit on the sidelines and watch England discards and hopefuls Ian Ward, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe and Ali Brown dominate Surrey's middle order.

The England star admitted he's already voiced his disquiet to Surrey coach Keith Medlycott, telling The Sun: "I'm hacked off and it's fair to say I put my point of view forcefully.

"Keith said he didn't want to change the middle order which, he said, didn't help my position as an opener – even though I did point out that I bat No 3 for England.

"The way I see it is that I'm an England player who scored a century against the best team in the world in my last game. But for some reason I'm not picked for my county," said Butcher.

If Butcher is overlooked for the Warwickshire match he could yet find himself being loaned out by the ECB – which controls his contract – to a second division county side to ensure he at least plays some first team cricket.

Alternatively, Butcher could yet be called back into the Surrey first team, especially given Brown's timely bout of tonsillitis, but his unenviable situation is a reminder to all that a county squad brimming with internationals brings with it its own unique problems.

ECB central contracts were supposed to prevent such situations arising but unfortunately officials believed it would be a case of insisting players rested rather than lobbying for their inclusion. What they hadn't reckoned on, it seems, is a club becoming as successful Surrey.

Under Adam Hollioake's bucaneering captaincy the "Manchester United of cricket" have now won the County Championship three years out of four and boast a squad featuring no less than 12 full internationals. Given that sort of depth of quality it is arguable which team would be stronger, a full strength Surrey side or an England team shorne of players from the champion county? Given present circumstances Butcher might not get a game for either side.

29 Apr, 2003