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Ian Butler would like it known he is not done with international cricket yet, even if it has been more than four years since he last played for the country.
"There's no point playing cricket if you don't want to play at the highest level," the 27-year-old said last night.
Butler is enjoying a career renaissance in the deep south after moving from Northern Districts.
"Realistically, before the start of this season I was just looking to cement myself in the Otago side and I'm happy because I've gone a long way towards that. As for the other stuff [New Zealand], you've just got to keep trying."
With Brendon Diamanti chosen for the New Zealand side for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, it shows the selectors are interested in guys who can exploit powerplays late in the innings and can bowl their quota of overs if necessary. Butler has at least shown signs of being able to fit that bill.
The Butler of 2009 is vastly different from the 2004 version. Then he was a raw pace bowler who tried to bowl as fast as he could every ball, a policy that ended up with that most predictable of afflictions - stress fractures in the back.
The time away from the bowling crease enabled him to work on his batting. At one point he wanted to reinvent himself solely as a batsman but increased strength and the lure of the ball proved too much.
The pace might be throttled back from time to time but he can still get it through and has impressed those he's played against this season.
Yesterday he almost single-handedly gave his adopted province a chance of winning, pummelling 44 off 23 balls, including four sixes, two of them massive, and took 5-55 with the ball.
He pulled Otago through to 186 - they were 123 when he went to the crease in the 39th over - with five overs remaining but when he skied the ball to midoff, Otago chances went with him.
His figures might look expensive in the context of the match but there is also a good reason for that.
"I knew I would be targeted because I was bowling in the powerplays and at the death but also when you're bowling then you know if you get it right you will pick up wickets."
Joseph Yovich collared him late in the innings - "I missed my targets a couple of times which was disappointing" - but he also picked up Graeme Aldridge, Bruce Martin and Bradley Scott when the slog was on.
