Luke Butterworth

A highly-talented allrounder, Luke Butterworth sensationally combined his batting and bowling skills to win the Man-of-the-Match award in Tasmania's Pura Cup final victory in 2006-07. Although it was only his fifth game, he displayed supreme composure with 66 in the first innings and 106 in the second. Butterworth, who had not previously scored a first-class half-century, also claimed 4 for 33 in New South Wales' first innings with his sharp medium-pace seamers. He came into the season still awaiting his Pura Cup debut but Ricky Ponting was so impressed when he led Butterworth in a state one-day game in November 2006 that he encouraged the Tigers to give the young allrounder more responsibilities. Until the final, he looked most dangerous as a bowler and he had important four-wicket hauls in wins against South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. He finished his excellent debut Pura Cup season with 23 wickets at 19.56 and 276 runs at 34.5 and the year was capped off with an Australia A call-up for the 2007 trip to Pakistan.

The following season was a year of consolidation rather than great heroics. He missed only one Pura Cup match and compiled 402 runs at 28.71, including another century against New South Wales. Although he had been a familiar face in Tasmania's limited-overs team for five years, Butterworth was used only three times in the FR Cup in 2007-08. A former Australia Under-19 representative, Butterworth will be aiming to make Tasmania's No. 6 batting spot his own in 2007-08.
Cricinfo staff September 2008