England batsman Mark Butcher was injured in a car crash on Monday, which may hamper his chances of playing in the first Test against West Indies at Lord's this week, a British newspaper said on Tuesday.

Butcher, who was on his way to get treatment for a thigh strain which itself had almost ruined his Test chances, was left with whiplash when his car was hit from behind.

"I'll just have to see what the medics say because I've got no idea how it's going to affect me," Butcher told the Daily Telegraph. "The first thing will be to see how I feel in the morning."

He has 69 Test caps and was expected to bat at number three, but Robert Key is also included in the squad for cover.

England recorded a historic 3-0 Test series win over West Indies in the Caribbean earlier this year, their first series victory there since 1968.