Cricket: Bracewell looks to Butler for spark

1.00pm - By MARK GEENTY

DERBY - New Zealand cricket coach John Bracewell is banking on fast bowler Ian Butler giving the tourists what they were missing as the youngster looks set to play a key role in the coming weeks here.

Butler will make his first appearance for New Zealand in England tonight (NZ time) in the one-day warm-up match against Derbyshire, along with fellow new arrivals Chris Harris and Hamish Marshall.

Chris Cairns has been rested after his marathon nine-wicket effort in the third test while Daniel Vettori and Michael Papps are still out with injury.

Bracewell said Butler, who hasn't played for two months with an ankle injury which kept him out of test contention, was a welcome addition for the tri-series against England and West Indies starting next week.

"It's been quite obvious we missed a bit of sting in comparison with the opposition. Their batsmen were able to sit on the back foot and have time to come forward against our same pace bowlers," Bracewell said today.

"If the wickets are anything like the test wickets, then certainly the variable bounce from the extra pace will be handy."

At the mid-140km/h range Butler is clearly the second fastest bowler New Zealand have behind Shane Bond, the man he replaced in the one-day squad.

Although his one-day figures read just seven wickets from 10 matches at 53.85, he has matured as a bowler but will need to hit stride quickly here.

The man himself, who joins county side Kent on a two-month contract after the tri-series, was fizzing after training at a windswept Derby ground.

"There's been some late nights, it's been frustrating watching the guys when you want to be there badly and can't be," Butler, 22, said.

"I've had no problems with the rehab and have been training pretty hard over the last couple of months. The ankle's not worrying me.

"It's been explained pretty clearly that my role's at the top and bottom of the innings. I enjoy bowling at the death, and it'd be good if we get conditions so the ball reverse swings over here."

Death bowling has been a constant headache of Bracewell's 11-match stint with the one-day side, which has still seen an impressive nine wins in contrast with the team's fluctuating test fortunes.

With his No 1 choice Kyle Mills on the plane home today with a side strain, Bracewell said Butler, Cairns and Daryl Tuffey were the leading candidates for the tense overs from 45 to 50.

"Losing Kyle Mills has created some issues, but Chris Cairns has said he'll step forward for the role, Daryl's got better and better with his accuracy, so we think we've got adequate cover until Jacob Oram's ribs are 100 per cent, which may give us a fourth option."

Oram's side strain would see him play a limited role with the ball here but he was on track to play a full part in New Zealand's opener against England in Manchester next Thursday.

Bracewell said they were trying to modify Oram's action with his front arm more open to take the pressure off the injury.

Meanwhile, Vettori began jogging today on his torn hamstring and is hoped to play the final warm-up match against Northamptonshire on Sunday to prove his fitness for Old Trafford.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Daryl Tuffey, Ian Butler, Gareth Hopkins (one to be omitted).

- NZPA