By Jonty Ralphsmith
Fearsome Tooradin fast bowler Brad Butler is facing a period on the sidelines with a back injury.
Butler is renowned as one of the quickest bowlers in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association Premier competition, capturing 43 wickets at 15 for the premiers last season.
He was the leading wicket-taker in the competition, opening the bowling for Tooradin and setting games up.
Captain-coach Mick Sweeney says the club is uncertain about when he will return and emphasised no pressure will be put on setting a return date.
“We’re still up in the air about how serious it is but he has got a back issue,” Sweeney said.
“He has been playing sport for many years and it’s just part of sport that you pick up niggles like this and he’s so athletic and intense with what he does that these things happen.
“Hopefully the outcome is great for us and we can get him back for us but if that’s not the case, then we’ll come up with different plans and hopefully what we dished up on the weekend is a sign of things to come – if we have to do it differently, so be it.”
Asked whether Tooradin is expecting to have Butler late in the season, Sweeney said: “I hope so. We’ll manage it as the information comes through. We won’t predict anything. He’s got some appointments scheduled and we’ll deal with it as it comes.”
Despite his extensive contributions, Tooradin have a slew of backup options, led by Josh Lownds who took 25 wickets last season, and Russell Lehman who nabbed 21.
Butler is expected to have clarity about the injury and next steps in his recovery later this month.
