Cricket: Butler sidelined for season

Ian Butler's cricketing year has gone from bad to worse.

Northern Districts coach Bruce Blair said today the fast bowler is unlikely to play this season after struggling to overcome a bulging disc in his back which has troubled him for the past year.

"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," Blair said.

"He'll enter into a rehab programme...looking to make a few changes to his bowling action."

Today's announcement follows Butler's dumping from New Zealand Cricket's list of top-20 contracted players in June.

Butler, 23, hasn't played a test since last October's tour of Bangladesh, and has 24 wickets from eight tests at 36.83, including a best of six for 46 against Pakistan.

Butler last played a one-day international for the Black Caps in the Chappell-Hadlee series last December.

Blair said Butler suffered from the same injury that afflicts many fast bowlers where their shoulders and hips were rotating against each other on delivery.

Butler would now spend the summer with New Zealand Cricket high performance coach Ashley Ross and the medical staff to hone his action and regain full fitness Blair said.

"He's disappointed but probably pretty thankful that he can take his time and get himself properly right," Blair said.

"That's an important thing for him going forward because we haven't seen the last of him."

Meanwhile Butler's Northern Districts teammate and former Black Cap Daryl Tuffey was still struggling with a bicep injury and was not likely to feature until early next year, Blair said.

- NZPA