ALAN BUTCHER, the 44-year-old Surrey 2nd XI captain and coach, was drafted into the first team to face Derbyshire at the Oval yesterday - on the day that his son, Mark, was making a century for England at Headingley.

Butcher last played for Surrey when making a duck here against Yorkshire in September 1986 and had apparently ended his first-class career with Glamorgan six years ago.

The left-hander owed his surprising inclusion to Jason Ratcliffe, who was ``disciplined and dropped after an internal incident'', according to Keith Medlycott, the coach.

``I didn't know until 10.30am, I'm in a bit of a whirl,'' Butcher said before strolling out at No 8 in the old brown cap and stroking his first ball through the covers for four.

His son was 81 not out at the time at Headingley. Butcher senior, meanwhile, went on to make 22. He returned to be told Mark had reached the coveted landmark. ``I'm delighted for him,'' he said. ``I'm sure we'll have a big celebration soon.''

Mark Butcher said: ``I didn't know until lunch-time when I got back to the dressing-room that dad was playing and then I thought the boys were winding me up.''