Butcher’s knife exposes Aussie wounds

Butcher shared in a 166-run partnership with captain Nasser Hussain to rebuild the innings after openers Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick went cheaply.

Vaughan, the world’s leading runscorer in 2002, made a forgetful start to the New Year when he was dismissed for a duck while Trescothick went for 19.

Butcher and Hussain restored the innings before Hussain departed after tea for 75, followed by the hapless Robert Key for three then Butcher shortly before the close to leave honours even. England, however, had made several similarly respectable starts in the series before slumping to defeat. Butcher and Hussain had their luck, with leg spinner Stuart MacGill dropping a simple return catch off Hussain when the skipper was on six and Butcher surviving no less than four-let offs.

He was dropped off a sharp chance by Damien Martyn on 13 and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist on 43, a catch he should have taken, and also got the benefit of the doubt to two decisions which television replays suggested should have been out.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee struck him on the pads then got another life on 95 when he was adjudged not out after Matthew Hayden claimed a bat-pad catch at silly-point. Despite that, Butcher showed touches of brilliance as he registered his sixth Test hundred .