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Michael Atherton's decision to rule himself out of the race to take over the England captaincy from the injured Nasser Hussain left the selectors to decide between Graham Thorpe and his Surrey team-mate, Mark Butcher.

Thorpe has led his county in just one first-class game - against Durham in 1994. Butcher, meanwhile, was appointed Surrey vice-captain earlier this season ahead of his more experienced colleague.

There are those with reservations about Thorpe's leadership qualities but they do not include Hussain. He was happy to recommend his closest friend in the England side to the selectors when they met yesterday.