Surrey captain Mark Butcher reckons it is unlikely the club’s golden age will be repeated in the near future because there is a smaller pool of young talent to choose from.

The 36-year-old last week admitted defeat in a long battle with a serious knee injury to call time on a glittering top level career that saw him captain his country and lift three County Championship titles with Surrey.

Butcher also won four one-day and 40-over trophies during his 20-year spell at the Oval, as the Brown Caps dominated county cricket at the turn of the century.

The club - now in Division Two of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship - have since gone into decline as the stallwarts of that side - Graeme Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Martin Bicknell and Ali Brown - have all retired in recent years Surrey have been busy promoting youngsters to first team action with Banstead’s Matt Spreigel and Dulwich College student Chris Jordan making names for themselves.

But Butcher admits it is going to take time for them to flourish having seen a number of promising players depart the Oval during his time at the club.

“The side suring the mid to late 90s were the guys I gre up playing the game with. It was nice to rekindle a club’s reputation with them at that time,” he said.

“Things have changed a huge amount since I started and I’m not sure I’ve seen that sort of flow of raw talent coming through since.

“Maybe it is because fewer state schools play cricket there is a smaller pool of talent to choose from.

“When I learnt the game it was against seasoned old pros and you had to learn fast. Now it is all about academy’s and age group cricket. Unless players have the passion to better themselves then many will not realise their potential.

“Players like Ali Brown would play for their clubs and score 100s week in, week out that is how they proved themselves and improved. I don’t see that happening now.”

Croydon-born Butcher, who last played for his country against South Africa in 2004, has battled injury since 2008 having been sidelined earlier in his career with a hand injury that ultimately brought a premature end to his international career.

He will be remembered most for the flashing 173 not out against Australia at Headingley in 2001 that took his side to a rare win over the old enemy.

And with England struggling in the current series he admits it is among the achievements he cherishes most - despite conceding it happened more by luck than judgement.

“The Ashes are the ultimate because of the history and the interest . To score runs against the best in the world means all the hard work has been justified,” he said.

“My involvement in that series was a stroke of luck really because of injuries to other batsmen, but I was in terrific form at the time and it just happened.

“Me and Adam Hollioake always used to talk about being the man to be there at the finish as being the heroes, whether you score 30 or a 100 that is the hardest part of it “The players there at the end of the game are the heroes and that is what you play the game for.”

Butcher and his band launch their new album ‘Songs from the Sun House’ in October, see myspace.com/markbutcher1 for more details.

Butcher’s top Surrey players

Alec Stewart & Graeme Thorpe - their Test records speak for themselves.

Ali Brown - the most destructive batsman in county cricket on his day.

Adam Hollioake - a great captain.

Martin Bicknell - the best new ball bowler in the game at the time.

Ian Ward - finished before his time.

Saqlain Mushtaq - the best overseas player we ever had.

Highlights:

Headingley - Butcher scored 173 not out against Australia in 2001 to win the game having been a surprise inclusion in the side at the start of the series.

County Championship title: Butcher won his first title with Surrey in 1999 - the club’s first for 19 years - before winning it again in 2000 and 2003, but it is the first he remembers most.

“The first one was the most special. There were 15 overs left in the day against Nottinghamshire and we needed 150 or so runs to win the game and the title with a day to go.

“We got off to flyer and claimed the extra half hour to finish the match. The squad were still sat on the outfield at 10pm drinking and chatting about it.”