Cricket: Butler - slower but smarter

People watching take cover as a ball comes flying at them. Photo by Craig Baxter.
People watching take cover as a ball comes flying at them. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Ian Butler celebrated his 27th birthday just the way he wanted to yesterday - with a game of cricket.

The Otago all-rounder was not required to do much but sit and watch, although he was called on to play a game of 500 when rain forced the players from Queens Park shortly after 3pm with Otago 211 for four.

These days even a frustrating rain-affected day of cricket is a good day.

Four years earlier the former Black Caps fast bowler faced an uncertain future in the game.

He came off the field after playing for New Zealand against Australia in a one-dayer in December 2004 and could barely walk.

"I couldn't sit down. I couldn't walk. My back was in agony," he said.

"We didn't really know what was wrong and I tried to play on for two months after that. I just wasn't fit . . . and New Zealand Cricket said, `Look, you have to go and get a scan.' When it came back it was severe disc compression and two bulging discs which, in a way, was worse than a stress fracture because a stress fracture can heal.

"I'll always have it. But I've put a lot of training in and am learning what I can and can't do." The outlook was bleak. The best medical opinion said he should never bowl again. And he has not, well, at least not at the pace he used to.

Those 140kmh-plus torpedoes are consigned to history. He is powerless to prevent wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder creeping up to the stumps when he comes on to bowl. And rather than a new cherry in his hand he has to settle for bowling third or even fourth change.

But he has defied the odds and is back bowling. Butler also believes he is a smarter bowler now.

Before his injury he used to charge in and bowl as fast as he could. Now, his bowling plans are more sophisticated and he has to worry about scoring runs as well.

"When I thought I was never going to bowl again I thought I'd be quite happy to play as a batter because I didn't want to give up cricket.

"I spent two years working on my batting and played a couple of one-dayers and twenty/20s for Northern Districts as a batsman. But now I'm able to do both it's much more enjoyable because you know you can contribute as two players to a side."

Butler sat out the entire 2005-06 season before making a comeback as a specialist batsman for Northern Districts' A side.

But his debut for Otago last week was his first first-class match since 2004. As far as debut outings goes it was pretty good.

He bowled well enough, taking two wickets in Northern Districts' second innings and scored a valuable 37 not out with the bat in a last wicket stand with James McMillan which helped Otago secure first innings points.

While it has been widely reported that Butler has moved to Otago to rejuvenate his international career, he is realistic about his international prospects. With so many good all-rounders in New Zealand, Butler said he was two or three seasons away from challenging for a spot in the Black Caps.

Right now he is content to contribute to Otago's campaign, even if that means no birthday cake, candles or presents.

 

 

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