Ian Butler probably thought his New Zealand days were over.
But four years after his last international, the Otago allrounder is back as one of four changes for Sunday's one-off Twenty20 international against Australia in Sydney.
Butler, 27, has been in strong form for Otago during the season,and now with strong lower order hitting as an extra string to his bow, has switched from a lively fast bowler to tidy medium pacer with the ability to slip in a sharp delivery.
His recall was praised by his Otago coach Mike Hesson yesterday.
"I'm delighted for him. He's been a huge allrounder for us this season," he said. Butler took 18 wickets at 19.83 apiece during Otago's run to the one-day State Shield final, backed with a batting average of 21.33.
His last appearance for New Zealand was against Australia in December 2004. In eight tests, the 27-year-old, who switched from Northern Districts to Otago this season to get more continuous cricket, took 24 wickets to go alongside 14 in 15 ODIs.
Back injuries chopped down his career and he has reinvented himself this season. He was also the victim of a nasty smear in 2004, when former NZ bowler Brendon Bracewell, in an email to former captain Ken Rutherford and which found its way to a local newspaper, described Butler as "a pea-hearted selfish bloke ..."
Others players introduced for Sunday are offspinning allrounder Nathan McCullum, ND wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan, and Wellington allrounder James Franklin, dropped after the two tests against the West Indies.
The players in the ODI squad heading home early are batsmen Peter Fulton and Craig Cumming, backup wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, allrounder Brendon Diamanti and bowlers Trent Boult and Jeetan Patel.
NZ SQUAD
Dan Vettori (c), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Peter McGlashan, Ian Butler, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien.
