Butcher has crack in right thumb

England top-order batsman Mark Butcher has a slight crack to his right thumb but a best case scenario would have him fit to play in the second National Bank Test starting on Thursday in Wellington.

Butcher injured his right thumb when taking the second slip catch that dismissed Lou Vincent from Andrew Caddick's bowling this morning.

He left the field immediately and was taken to hospital for a precautionary x-ray.

It revealed a slight crack.

A specialist advised the injury should be treated as soft-tissue damage.

His ability to play would be determined by the amount of pain he was in.

His injury will be re-assessed tomorrow morning and any decision on whether to call for a replacement will be delayed until that time.