Ian Butler (cricketer)

Ian Gareth Butler (born 24 November 1981) is a New Zealand cricketer who has dual UK citizenship. Butler was born in Middlemore in the Auckland urban area. He has represented New Zealand in all three formats of the game internationally. He is currently the bowling coach of Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United.

Ian Butler

Personal information
Full name	Ian Gareth Butler
Born	(1981-11-24) 24 November 1981 (age 43) Middlemore, New Zealand
Nickname	Butts
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	New Zealand (2002–2013)
Test debut (cap 218)	13 March 2002 v England
Last Test	22 October 2004 v Bangladesh
ODI debut (cap 127)	13 February 2002 v England
Last ODI	11 February 2010 v Bangladesh
ODI shirt no.	2 (prev. 60)
T20I debut (cap 35)	15 February 2009 v Australia
Last T20I	27 June 2013 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2001/02–2007/08	Northern Districts
2008/09–2013/14	Otago
2003	Gloucestershire
2004	Kent
2010	Gloucestershire
2013	Notts
2014	Northants
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 8 26 72 111 Runs scored 76 84 1,261 838 Batting average 9.50 10.50 18.82 15.81 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/5 0/1 Top score 26 25 73* 53* Balls bowled 1,368 1,109 11,041 4,936 Wickets 24 28 204 136 Bowling average 36.83 37.07 30.95 32.80 5 wickets in innings 1 0 4 2 10 wickets in match 0 0 1 0 Best bowling 6/46 4/44 6/46 5/33 Catches/stumpings 4/– 8/– 16/– 24/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 31 December 2017

Domestic career

At the age of 17, he had his first professional contract with Penrith in Lake District. The following year, he played for Purley in London.

He played for Northern Districts between 2001 and 2008 before moving to Otago, representing them in the 2009 Champions League Twenty20 in India.

He had stints in English county cricket with Gloucestershire in 2003 and Kent in 2004.

In 2007 Butler played for Harborne Cricket Club in Birmingham, and coached some boys from King Edward's School Birmingham, Edgbaston. In 2008 he again played for Harborne Cricket Club, as well as Lashings Cricket Club in London.

He then re-signed for Gloucestershire in the 2010 Friends Provident t20 tournament. In 2014 Butler signed for Northamptonshire.

International career

Although overshadowed by express speedster Shane Bond, Butler's fast bowling has proved a potent force in itself.^{[citation needed]} His ability to get lift from benign surfaces winning him a test best 6 for 46 against Pakistan in Wellington in 2004. Following a series of back injuries, he failed to establish himself as an automatic selection in an increasingly strong New Zealand side and has not appeared in first class cricket since December 2014 though he is still active in one day cricket for Northern Districts.

Butler was recalled to the New Zealand squad in early 2009, and played in a Twenty20 International against Australia in Sydney, going on to play in the 2009 and 2010 ICC World Twenty20 tournaments in England and the West Indies.

Retirement

In 2014, Butler announced his retirement from cricket.^[1] In January 2022, Butler accepted the role of Director of Cricket at C.I.Y.M.S. Cricket Club in Belfast, Northern Ireland.^[2]

Coaching career

In March 2025, he joined Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United as bowling coach replacing Azhar Mahmood.^[3]