However, Butcher and his team-mates have been given warning that rotation of the squad will become part and parcel of life at the club. Butcher will open the innings and Keith Medlycott, the coach, said: “I don’t think some of the things that have been said have been that helpful. Everyone needs to understand that Surrey will pick the best side for Surrey. It’s not rotation, it’s about balance. But we knew six months ago this would happen. This is an isolated period. Come the middle of summer everybody will be very happy.”

Thorpe is joined on the sidelines by Rikki Clarke, who is replaced by Azhar Mahmood, the Pakistan all-rounder. Clarke scored an unbeaten 127 to help Surrey to draw their opening match after they had been forced to follow on by Lancashire.

Stephen Fleming set a New Zealand record for the most runs in a Test match as the opening match of the series against Sri Lanka was drawn in Colombo. Fleming’s five-hour innings of 69 not out, which followed his first- innings score of 274 not out, gave him a match aggregate of 343 to eclipse Martin Crowe’s record of 329.

“It does mean a lot to me, it is good to have two innings of substance,” Fleming said.

Pakistan yesterday recalled Shoaib Akhtar, the fast bowler, for the triangular series in Sri Lanka next month, announcing a revamped 15-man squad that will also play New Zealand. Shoaib was dropped from the squad that won the Sharjah Cup earlier this month after Pakistan’s failure to go beyond the first round in the World Cup in South Africa.