Butler joins Gloucestershire on temporary deal

Gloucestershire have signed the up-and-coming New Zealand fast bowler, Ian Butler, as a temporary replacement for their allrounder, Ian Harvey, who has been selected for Australia's forthcoming one-day series in the Caribbean.

Butler joins Gloucestershire next week, when New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka comes to an end, and will stay until the end of May when Harvey is due to return from international action.

"I am really looking forward to playing for Gloucestershire and I cannot wait to get started," said Butler. "I have not had a lot of cricket in Sri Lanka but I have been doing a lot of bowling in the nets, but nothing beats playing out in the middle."

Butler, 21, has played four Tests and nine one-day internationals in his brief career, which began with an unexpected debut against England at Christchurch in 2001-02, after Shane Bond withdrew with an ankle injury. Described by Sir Richard Hadlee, New Zealand's chairman of selectors, as "the biggest call he had ever made", Butler has the ability to become one of the quickest bowlers in world cricket.