Butler has signed for his second spell at Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire have re-signed fast bowler Ian Butler as their second overseas player for Twenty20.

The 28-year-old New Zealand paceman first played for the county in 2003 before a spell with Kent.

"The club has been very friendly and welcoming, just as I remembered it from before," he said.

Butler has played in eight Test matches and 26 one-day internationals for New Zealand, including two appearances against Bangladesh this year.

Most recently, the Auckland-born player appeared in three matches at the World Twenty20, taking 3-19 as his side beat Pakistan by one run.

Gloucestershire's director of cricket John Bracewell added: "He brings with him recent experience in the Champions League with Otago and at the World Twenty20 with New Zealand and will be a huge asset to the squad.

"When Ian broke down with a recurring back injury, he actually reinvented himself as a batter and came back and played in Twenty20 games solely as a batter.

"His back has recovered and he's now developed some all-round skills. That's really handy in the middle in terms of power that we perhaps lacked a little last year. It gives us a more rounded side.

"We'll be looking to use his short bursts of big hitting, probably playing other batters in and around him."

Butler will play alongside fellow New Zealander James Franklin in the Gloucestershire squad, who face their opening match of the Cup campaign against Glamorgan on Friday.

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