Mark Butcher is forced to come out of the nets during England's practice session © Getty Images

Mark Butcher has been ruled out of the England side for the first Test at Lord's - which starts on Thursday - after suffering whiplash following a car accident on Monday evening. Robert Key will take his place in the starting XI.

Yesterday, Butcher was clearly uncomfortable as he faced a few throw-downs in the indoor nets at Lord's, and his neck injury meant that he could not join in fielding exercises. He was also not fit enough to run, and so unable to test the thigh strain which first made him doubtful last week.

Key will be play in his ninth Test tomorrow, and Michael Vaughan, the captain, said that it will be his big chance to shine. "He's got an opportunity to do exactly what Andrew Strauss did at the start of the summer," Vaughan said. "Butch will be missed, but opportunity has arisen for Robert Key."

Butcher's fender-bender is the latest in England's catalogue of injuries. Andrew Flintoff has a bone spur in his left ankle, which forced him out of the recent NatWest Series, and Simon Jones is still on the mend after a foot injury. Both men are likely to play at Lord's, although Flintoff only as a batsman.