Mark Butcher won 79 caps for England (Getty Images)

The Surrey captain said: "At the moment Steve looks such a long way off."

He added: "Stuart Broad is out there and in New Zealand and he took part in the one-day series and he's ready and firing and ready to go.

"With only three main team bowlers can you afford to be hoping about one of them? I don't think you can."

Butcher added: "But it's difficult to leave out senior players in the middle of a tour because I think if you do that then you're probably signalling the end for them."

Butcher, who has 79 England caps explains that things have changed dramatically since he played for his country.

"It has become common practice nowadays that players would miss bits of Test matches, bits of tours, and return home from tours for the birth of their children," continued Butcher.

"I suppose I'm a bit old school and belong to that Alec Stewart school of it where you're paid to do your job, you do your job and go back and see your kids when you're finished.

"But that's something that has been allowed and players have done it in the last three or four years so you don't blame him, I suppose for that."