Mark Butcher’s Top 3 Performances in Test Cricket

Former England and Surrey cricketer Mark Butcher was born on 23 August 1972. Predominantly a left-handed batter, Butcher was also an occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler who could also bowl off-spin. Notably, he captained England once in 1999 against New Zealand when Nasser Hussain was injured. 

Butcher made his Test debut in the first Test of the 1997 Ashes series. He went on to represent the Three Lions in 71 Tests, scoring 4288 runs at an average of 34.58, including eight hundreds and 23 half-centuries. As the English cricketer turns 52 on August 23, let’s take a look at his top three performances in Tests. 

Here are Mark Butcher’s top 3 performances in Test cricket

3. 116(252) vs SA, Leeds, 1998

Butcher’s scintillating hundred in the first innings helped England win by 23 runs in the fifth Test of the 1998 series. While the rest struggled to find runs, the southpaw scored 116 off 252 balls to take the team score to 230. South Africa replied with 252 and England added 240 more runs to their tally. Chasing a target of 219 runs, the Proteas batsman faltered and ended up scoring 195 runs, handing the hosts a 23-run victory.

2. 124(276) vs Australia, Sydney, 2003 

England posted 362 in the first innings of the fifth Test against Australia in the 2003 series. It was Butcher who took the responsibility with a brilliant hundred (124 off 276 balls). Australia replied with 363 after captain Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist smashed centuries. England scored 452/9 in the second innings and set a massive target of 452 for the hosts. Australia struggled to find runs as Andy Caddick shone with a seven-wicket haul. They were bundled out for 226 runs as England won by 225 runs.

1. 173*(227) vs Australia, Leeds, 2001

Butcher recorded his highest score in Test cricket in the fourth Test of the 2001 Ashes series. Australia elected to bat first and amassed 447 runs on the back of centuries from Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn. The hosts declared for 176 in the second innings as England’s response ended at 309. The visitors had to chase down a target of 315 and they had a horror start, losing both the openers early on. However, Butcher led the charge with an unbeaten 173 and took England home by six wickets. 

Also read: Michael Clarke’s Top 3 Performances in Test Cricket