In between his hundred in the fifth Test win in Sydney in January and the 137 against Zimbabwe at Lord's, the 30-year-old was left out by Surrey for their opening championship match at home to Lancashire.

Butcher put all that behind him though and prospered after being dropped by Sean Ervine at second slip on Thursday, when on 36.

He made it five centuries in 24 Tests since his international recall in 2001 but the left-hander may have been vulnerable had he not made that score at the SCG.

"I was told I was under a bit of pressure for my place so it was very nice to get a hundred as part of a winning side," he said.

"I knew my name was on the list as one of those who might not make it.

"Now a new series has come along with a clamour to get new faces in the team.

"I think I have earnt my place in the side over the last two years and it was nice to cement that again today.

"Hopefully this sort of innings is becoming a habit that I will keep for a while."

He added: "Marcus Trescothick and I did a lot of hard work yesterday in difficult conditions that were favourable to the bowlers and it paid dividends for me today."

Butcher is regularly omitted from Surrey's one-day side and when he was left out in the champions' four-day opener at the Oval, it was a shock to the system.

Surrey could not fit nine batsmen into six places and Butcher said: "I am getting used to that now and I just concentrate on my batting when I get a chance.

"The Surrey thing does make it a little bit difficult and there were one or two heated comments around at the time. Something was made of the fact that an England batsman could not get a place in his county team but it's pretty much resolved now."

England posted 472 thanks to maiden Test half-centuries from debutant Anthony McGrath and Ashley Giles before another fresher James Anderson struck an early blow in Zimbabwe's 48 for one before the close.

Yorkshire captain McGrath, 27, said: "This is probably the best day of my life. It is a dream come true.

"I realise I was playing because of the Andrew Flintoff injury and I looked at it like a no-lose situation and tried to play my natural game.

"There were a few nerves but I just tried to enjoy the whole experience; when I went out there I didn't want to have any regrets.

"Now if I want to be involved more regularly I have to have more days like today."

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