Butcher left out

However, they cannot quite bring themselves to discount him altogether.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney points out that England will soon have to face another crop of one-dayers on the winter tours of Zimbabwe (if it happens) and South Africa

"Mark has recently indicated he would now like to be considered for our one-day side (having previously expressed concern that playing both forms of the game might have an impact on his fitness) and we will be watching with interest his performances for Surrey," added Graveney.

Frankly, if England do not know by now what Butcher could offer then they never will.

In any event, by the time the winter arrives England will be able to pick the batsman they would dearly love to have on board right now.

While Butcher concentrates on recovering from a thigh strain ahead of Thursday week's first Test against West Indies, England have at least thrown a few new names into the oneday ring.

Among them are batsman Ian Bell and Test fast bowler Simon Jones.

Squad: M Vaughan (Yorks, Capt), Kabir Ali (Worcs), J Anderson (Lancs), G Batty (Worcs), I Bell (Warwicks), I Blackwell (Soms), R Clarke (Surrey), P Collingwood (Durham), R Dawson (Yorks), A Flintoff (Lancs), A Gidman (Glos), A Giles (Warwicks), D Gough (Essex), S Harmison (Durham), G Jones (Kent), S Jones (Glam), R Key (Kent), J Kirtley (Sussex), J Lewis (Glos), A McGrath (Yorks), S Mahmood (Lancs), G Napier (Essex), M Powell (Glam), C Read (Notts), V Solanki (Worcs), A Strauss (Middx), C Tremlett (Hants), M Trescothick (Soms), M Wagh ( Warwicks), A Wharf (Glam).