Butler likely to miss entire season

Ian Butler has been given the chance to make a full recovery from a spine injury © Getty Images

Ian Butler, the New Zealand fast bowler, is likely to be ruled out for the southern summer season with a back injury, according to Bruce Blair, his first-class provincial coach.

Butler has been bowling with pain over the last year due to a bulging disc in his spine, Blair told the New Zealand Press Association. Butler was dropped in June from the list of New Zealand Cricket's 20 contracted players, from which the national team is usually drawn.

"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, the Northern Districts coach, stated. "He'll enter into a rehab programme ... [and is] looking to make a few changes to his bowling action."

Butler last played a Test in October and has taken 24 wickets in eight tests at an average of 36.83. His last one-day international was in December.