Cricket: Injuries force Butler into retirement

Ian Butler. Photo by Peter McIntosh
Ian Butler. Photo by Peter McIntosh
Walking away from the game he loves was ultimately ''a pretty easy decision'' for Ian Butler.

The 32-year-old Otago and former New Zealand seam bowler announced his retirement yesterday. He wanted to walk away while he still could.

''At the end of the day there is more to life than waking up every day after cricket being unable to walk,'' Butler said.

''It has been mentally draining coping with injuries and playing through pain for a long period of time. And when you add in I wasn't sure I was going to get through the season, it was a pretty easy decision. I was never going to take a contract.''

That said, it was still a heart-wrenching decision all the same.

''You are giving up something you love and I've been privileged to play cricket with a really good bunch of guys. But considering what happened in 2004, I would have taken any cricket again.

''So to get another six years and give myself a pretty good shot at it, well, I'm pretty proud of that.''

Butler burst on to the international cricket scene as a rapid 20-year-old during England's 2002 tour of New Zealand.

That series is more memorable for Nathan Astle's remarkable innings of 222 but Butler showed enormous promise the following year, taking six for 46 against Pakistan.

But his fledgling test career came to a premature end when he sustained a serious back injury while bowling for New Zealand against Australia in a one-dayer in 2004.

He missed the 2005-06 season before making a comeback as a specialist batsman for Northern Districts' A side. He transferred to Otago for the 2008-09 season and the fresh start helped reinvigorate his career.

He has been a dynamic performer for Otago in all three formats.

He helped the province secure two twenty20 titles and was also an influential figure in Otago's 15-game winning-streak in twenty20 cricket during the 2012-13 season..

His success with Otago saw him earn an international recall and he was even called into the test squad, although he was not required.

Through it all Butler battled chronic back pain.

Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes said it was remarkable what Butler was able to achieve given the obstacles he faced.

''The way he dealt with his debilitating injuries and his exacting preparation saw him re-invent himself as a quality all-rounder and become a `go to' bowler for both the Volts and the Black Caps,'' Dykes said.

''His ability to finish games with both bat and ball set him apart as a sought-after specialist in the short forms of the game.

''He was a quality cricketer and is a quality individual whose strong values and exacting standards will add much to whatever he does in the future.''

That future is bound to involve cricket, though Butler, who is living in Auckland, was reluctant to expand.

However, his ambitions include coaching and he suggested he would love to return to live in Dunedin at ''some stage''.

''I'm just finalising things at the moment so I don't want to say too much just yet. But I certainly see myself staying in cricket. It is something I have the most passion for and a lot of experience as well.

''The last couple of years I've looked at options outside of cricket. But at the end of the day you always come back to what you love doing.''

Asked about career highlights, Butler said there were ''loads'' and rattled through half a dozen.

Playing alongside Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey - two of his best mates - when New Zealand achieved a test win against the West Indies in the Caribbean for the first time was one of the more memorable occasions. Otago's 15-game winning-streak was special, too.

''We were at the top of our game and every day you left the hotel you sort of felt you were going to win, no matter what. That was an awesome experience to be part of.''

But he will miss walking into the dressing room and chatting with his team-mates the most.

''When you leave cricket you have to accept that you are not going to see your best mates every day, so that, without a doubt, will be the hardest thing.''


Ian Butler
Career record (bowling)
Tests: 8 games, 24 wkts at 36.83

ODIs: 26 games, 28 wkts at 37.07

T20 international: 19 games, 23 wkts at 20.91

First-class: 72 games, 204 wkts at 30.95

One-day: 111 games, 136 wkts at 32.80

Twenty20: 87 games, 104 wkts at 22.39


 

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