he retained the official captaincy of Surrey his appearances for the team became sporadic. In August 2009, Butcher announced his retirement from all first-class cricket after a troubling knee injury. Since his retirement as a player, he has commentated on cricket for Sky Sports and has appeared as an expert summariser on Test Match Special, for Star Sports and ESPN Cricinfo. He appeared in Sky Sports documentary titled You Guys Are History where he explores and examines why there is a massive decline in black cricketers in England since the turn of the century. He was awarded Honorary Life Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in January 2010. Test centuries Music career Butcher is also a guitar-player and singer – he sang a ballad at Surrey and England teammate Ben Hollioake's funeral. Previously, in 2001, he appeared on the 'Jamie Theakston Cricket Show' on BBC Radio 5 Live, where he played a live acoustic version of "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" by The Stranglers with the former Stranglers' frontman Hugh Cornwell. In early 2008, Butcher started recording his debut album, Songs from the Sun House. Released in 2010, it includes "You're Never Gone", the song he wrote in tribute to Hollioake. Mark Butcher partnered Sarah Brightman on the second series of Just the Two of Us aired on BBC One in January 2007; they came third overall. Personal life He was born to a Jamaican mother and an English father. Butcher attended Cumnor House Prep School, Trinity School and Archbishop Tenison's School in Croydon, and supports the local football team, Crystal Palace. At one time during his playing career, Butcher was married to former England and Surrey teammate Alec Stewart's sister Judy. Surrey's former coach and player, Alan Butcher, is his father, and his brother, Gary, played for Glamorgan and Surrey. References External links 1972 births Living people Cricketers from Croydon People educated at Archbishop Tenison's Church of England High School, Croydon People educated at Trinity School of John Whitgift English cricketers Surrey cricketers Surrey cricket captains England Test cricketers England Test cricket captains English cricket commentators English people of Jamaican descent Test and County Cricket Board XI cricketers Black British sportsmen