Leslie Butler

Leslie Charles Butler (2 September 1934 – 21 January 2006) was a New Zealand cricketer. A left-handed batsman and slow left-arm spin bowler, Butler played as an all-rounder for Wellington between 1951 and 1967, scoring 1,396 runs and taking 120 wickets from 53 first class cricket matches. He was also selected for two first-class matches against the Marylebone Cricket Club as part of the New Zealand hosting team in 1961. Batting at number 11, he scored 10*, then bowled 11 wicket-less overs for 47. He was not out for zero in the second innings, and did not bowl again, nor play for the remainder of the 1951/52 season. He scored 53 runs from four matches in the next season at the low averaged of 8.83, and took three wickets at a struggling 44.33. He did not play again until 1957, where he appeared five times, scoring 61 runs at 7.62 and taking six wickets at an improved 27.33. He also took six wickets at 35.83. and took two wickets at 11.00.

The 1961/62 season saw eight wickets at 20.50, composed largely of Butler's first five-wicket-haul, 5/34. His efforts with the bat and the ball in this final match were his season best.