Butler to miss southern season

Ian Butler, the fast bowler from New Zealand, is unlikely to play at all in the entire southern season due to a damaged back, according to his first class coach, Bruce Blair.

Blair also told the New Zealand press that Butler had a bulging disc in his spine, thus making him bowl in pain over the last year.

Butler has been dropped from New Zealand’s 20 national contracted players recently too, maybe a repercussion of this injury. He has played 8 tests and taken 24 wickets at 36.83, as well as 15 ODI’s taking 14 wickets at an average of 39.85.

“He’s been bowling with pain for over a year, so we’ve decided it’s time we made some decisions about Ian which would give him his best chance of making a full recovery,” said Blair, who also indicated that changes in Butler’s action were imminent.