Butcher damaged his thumb fielding against the Essex first team at Chelmsford more than a month ago, an injury which forced him to miss two Tests against South Africa having scored 77 and 11 at Edgbaston.

Now the frustrating wait is almost over as he joins the England party for today's practice at Trent Bridge. Keith Medlycott, Surrey's coach, said: ``It was a commonsense decision to play on Monday. He needs to have a couple of hits.

``Regardless of scoring huge runs, it's the feelgood factor and the belief that everything's working OK, that there's no problem with the thumb and that he's 100 per cent fit.''

Butcher experienced a wretched Test series in the West Indies and he had to bat his way back into the England side with championship runs for Surrey, his two hundreds and two fifties in six innings providing the evidence the selectors were seeking.

Medlycott said: ``He has come back this season with a very professional approach. He's had a taste of where he wants to be. He wants to do well not only for England but for Surrey. We're having a great championship run.

``At the Oval we have a policy that everyone tries to help everyone else. He's good at that, and he's always involved. Mentally he's very strong and technically very good.''

Ian Salisbury returns to the Test side at Trent Bridge with a host of well-wishers -and with his fellow Surrey spinner Saqlain Mushtaq praying for him.

Pakistan bowler Saqlain rang Salisbury yesterday to tell him he had also instructed his parents in Lahore to pray for his friend.

The partnership forged between the two, on and off the field, has been a major factor in the re-emergence of Salisbury as a Test-class bowler.

``Saqlain has taught me a lot, especially of the need to be shrewder and to get the right field,'' Salisbury said. ``We talk a lot about our bowling and we really enjoy each other's company off the field. I've been aware of a lot of goodwill towards me in recent weeks and I think a few people have changed their opinions about me as a cricketer.''