The tourists were thought to be deliberating about two positions for the start of the series at St George's Park next Friday. Butcher, the Surrey left-hander, was competing with Robert Key for the final batting place while Jones was facing competition from James Anderson as the fourth seamer.

That double dilemma appeared to have been decided today, however, with England announcing Butcher and Jones in their team to face a strong South Africa A side in their final three days of match practice before the opening Test.

Butcher returns to the side for the first time since playing the last Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June. He then missed the whole of the West Indies series after suffering whiplash in a minor car crash and then strained his thigh lifting boxes at home.

Kent's Robert Key impressed in Butcher's absence, scoring 221 at Lord's and an unbeaten 93 at Old Trafford against West Indies. He has also made a vibrant start to this tour by scoring 87 in the opening victory over Nicky Oppenheimer's XI while rival Butcher made only six.

But, with the start of the five Test series just a week away, England have plumped for Butcher's greater experience and record.

"It's important that everybody's performances are considered and Butch missed out because of injury not because of a lack of form and we have to give credit to that," explained Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, today.

The selection of Butcher also indicates England's committment to consistency. Key had only been recalled into the set-up as a replacement following his rival's run of injuries last summer, and England have now underlined that policy.

The same does not apply to Jones who regains his spot in the side after losing out to Anderson for the final three Tests of the summer. The Gamorgan fast bowler impressed with his debut displays for the one-day side in Zimbabwe and has been given the nod on form.

"I thought Jones bowled very well in Zimbabwe," enthused Fletcher. "His lines were outstanding and his lengths were outstanding. We didn't want him to bowl as quickly as he could and we spoke to all the bowlers before the Oppenheimer game and told them to make sure they bowled within themselves - you can't go into your first couple of games risking injury. Sometimes you can try too hard and all Jones has to do is up the pace a little bit, which I think he's capable of."

England: ME Trescothick (Somerset), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), MA Butcher (Surrey), MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), GP Thorpe (Surrey), A Flintoff (Lancashire), GO Jones (Kent, wkt), AF Giles (Warwickshire), SP Jones (Glamorgan), MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire), SJ Harmison (Durham).

South Africa A: A Prince (capt), M van Jaarsveld, J Ontong, J Duminy, MA Boucher (wkt), A Morkel, A Thomas, C Langeveldt, E Mbhalati, A Puttick, C Willoughby.

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