Injured Butcher replaced by Bell

Mark Butcher has been ruled out of the remainder of England's tour of South Africa. The left-handed veteran has experienced a lot of down time due to injury lately, and now his bad luck continues. He sprained his wrist earlier in the series and was ruled out of the third Test match. Instead Robert Key featured, registering a duck and then 41.

With his recent injury spurt, coupled with bad form and competition for places, there are distinct fears that Butcher's Test career could be over. Certainly that is the fear of the man himself. Indeed, Key replaced Butcher for the entirety of the England home series against the West Indies last year, as Butcher was injured.

Young prospect Ian Bell has been called up as cover for Butcher. Bell played his first and the only Test of his career to date in the English summer last year. He debuted in the fourth Test of England's 4-0 whitewash of the West Indies, and scored 70 in his only innings of the game.

However, Bell will expectedly have to wait until the fifth and final Test match if he is to get a game at all. This, as Key may retain his place in the playing XI, having already acclimatized to the conditions and scored some measure of runs on tour.

In related news, it is yet to be confirmed whether top allrounder Andrew Flintoff will be fit enough to bowl in the next Test. He is expected to play as a batsman at the very least.

Posted by Liam