After slogging his way through domestic cricket for more than a decade, Butterworth’s dream of playing in national colours almost came true when he was included for the 2010 ODI side series against Bangladesh.

An aggressive middle order batsman and useful medium pacer, Harare born Butterworth’s talent were evident from his schooling days but strangely he couldn’t replicate his success in the domestic scene. Inconsistency and tendency to throw away starts proved to be his biggest enemies in the following years and nearing the age of 30, his chances of representing Zimbabwe were fading by the day.

However with two Logan Cup hundreds in the 2009-10 season and a sensational 2010 Stanbic Bank 20 Series with both bat and ball for Mashonaland, selectors decided to include him in the ODI side for the Bangladesh series as Grant Flower’s replacement which he eventually didn’t play.

However given the state that Zimbabwean cricket finds itself in, the allrounders age won’t be a barrier to his chances in the national side provided he performs consistently enough in the domestic arena.