Interview with former New Zealand fast bowler, Ian Butler

Following on from the interview with Shane Getkate, I had the privilege to be able to interview former New Zealand bowler, Ian Butler.

Ian Butler is a fast bowler who made his First-Class debut for Northern Districts back in November of 2001 and then proceeded to make his Test match debut only four months later against England in Christchurch,NZ on the 13th March 2002. Butler went on to play in eight Test matches, 26 One Day Internationals and also 19 T20 Internationals for his country. Overall,  taking 75 international wickets across the three formats. Butler would also represent New Zealand at the T20 World Cup in 2010 in the West Indies.

 

Firstly Ian can you share some memorable moments from your cricket career that stand out the most to you?

Being part of the first NZ team to win a test series in the West Indies was very enjoyable. To be honest, I don’t actually recall a huge amount about exact games. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity just to experience playing around the world against the best players, whether it was domestic or internationally!

 

Next, how did your transition from professional cricket to life in Belfast come about, and what motivated the move?

I had been working in the Private School Sporting scene for 8 years. After the birth of our first child, we decided to move to NI to have more family support around us.

How do you reflect on the skills and experiences from your cricket career that have proven valuable in your current role?

Playing sport is an incredible platform for moving into the real world! Working in a team, alongside many different personalities, managing your own preparation, dealing with the highs and lows, are very transferable into the workplace. Being Director of Cricket early in that time was a great learning opportunity. Looking after a large program across prep and senior school was ideal preparation for moving into the Sportsmaster role. Understanding the challenges for the Directors who managed the 28 sports was the best platform to succeed. In my opinion, having walked a mile in their shoes made for much easier working relationships. Having such great learning opportunities so early in my working career post cricket will hopefully set me up for the future.

 

Are there specific lessons or values from your cricket journey that you emphasize when working with aspiring cricketers in Belfast?

Forget the last ball – no matter what has happened, it's irrelevant. Batting, whether you hit a six or played and missed, the next ball is still a battle between you and the bowler. Same for bowlers. I want to see bowlers get hit and not show disappointment. Back yourself and win the next ball is the key!

 

What do you enjoy most about the cricket community in Belfast, and how does it differ from your experiences in New Zealand?

The passion. The NCU is a very competitive cricket union. Not only is the Premier League a very high standard, but the youth programs are producing quality international players, and the Knights have a great opportunity to lay down their mark over the next few years. A superb group of determined young men eager to win games for the Knights. Not that NZ doesn’t have the same passion, but in a smaller pool of participants, it's certainly very noticeable here how much those involved in the game really do live it!

 

As someone with international cricket experience, how do you inspire and motivate local talents within the NCU?

I just try to be me. If I can bring a positive attitude to every session, make people see how good they can become, and help through the tough parts of the game, which there are many, then I feel like I’m contributing to everyone getting better and enjoying the game more.

 

Could you share any future goals or aspirations you have, both personally and for your involvement with cricket in Belfast and the NCU?

I just aim to leave a positive mark on whatever I’m involved in. No matter how big or small, if you give everything your best, then good things will come. We have a quality group of staff at the NCU who I enjoy working with. We have some exciting aspirations in the union which hopefully will come to fruition soon, so that is a buzz to keep pushing forward. CIYMS have been brilliant to be involved with as well, and I’m looking forward to the coming summer!

I'd like to thank Ian for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer the questions and wish him the best for the upcoming 2024 NCU season.