Cricket: Coming in on a knee and a prayer

By RICHARD BOOCK

Daryl Tuffey is hoping to soon add a much happier chapter to the checkered story of his career.

He's hoping his selection for next month's Champions Trophy tournament will give him a chance to end a disappointing run of setbacks.

Tuffey was struck down by injury during this year's tour of England, missing the third test at Nottingham and all but the first match of the Natwest one-day series.

It was a galling end to the series for the 26-year-old, who also had difficult times during the earlier stages of his career, particularly in his first tours to South Africa and Australia.

Nagged by a knee tendon problem for the past year, Tuffey took a month off to recover before this year's visit to England.

But he could not rediscover his form when required and even managed to look harmless on a Headingly minefield.

To make matters worse, just as he began to hit his straps his body failed him again - this time a hip flexor injury that prevented him from sprinting, and therefore from charging in at the bowling crease.

His tour was over.

"It was really disappointing," he said yesterday. "I'd been looking forward to bowling well and taking some wickets in England but it wasn't to be, and I was pretty low about how things panned out.

"But the best news is that I've been recovering well, and that last week's medical assessment was very positive.

"All the concerns have eased, and I'm really looking forward to returning to England, getting back in the team, and playing well."

As for his left knee - the one that takes most of the shock from his delivery stride - he said the patella tendon had not been torn and it was thought that his best bet was to manage the condition for as long as possible.

The theory was that he should be able to get through this summer with constant treatment, after which he could use the winter window in New Zealand's itinerary for surgery, if required.

"I just have to bear with it. The knee will have its good days and bad days but, if I can manage it properly as I did all last summer, hopefully I'll get through the season.

"Ideally, I might not have to go under the knife at all, but if I do it will mean five months out of action so [winter] would definitely be the best time."

Regarded as New Zealand's most durable pace bowler, Tuffey was the last member of the attack standing in 2000, and was voted New Zealand's international player of the summer after the 2002 series against India.

He said it was almost inevitable that the increasing number of international games would catch up with him, just as it had with most of his pace bowling team-mates, and most of those in opposition sides as well.

"There's a lot of cricket being played at the highest level these days, and that's probably the biggest challenge for all pace bowlers.

"The past seven months have taken a toll on me, and I'd had a pretty good record for fitness up until then.

"Hopefully I won't need an operation, but I don't want to be just hobbling through each season either. I'd like to get back to a point where I can consider options like playing some English county cricket."

The chance to play Australia again was another spur for the Northern Districts right-armer, who has yet to taste success against the world champions after four games.

Tuffey's first experience against Australia was at the 2002 Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka, when Ricky Ponting's side carried the day by 164 runs. He then played them three times in last year's TVS Cup series in India without success.

"They've played great cricket for the past decade, but we've made some big strides lately.

We're ranked as the No 2 team in the world, and that's probably an accurate reflection of where we are now.

"We were probably going to have to play Australia at some stage anyway, so why not kick them out from the start?"

New Zealand's record under coach John Bracewell - 13 wins in 15 completed one-day internationals, including the Natwest triumph in England - goes a long way towards explaining Tuffey's confidence.

"Since Christmas I think we've been playing the best ODI cricket I've ever been part of," he said.

"The success rate's obviously made things pretty enjoyable but it hasn't been an accident - everyone's worked their butts off to get it there.

"The batters have been outstanding and the bowling attack has supported them pretty well; I know I feel as if I've been feeding off the batters' success.

"And as a team we've been turning in more balanced performances."

DARYL TUFFEY

Born: Milton, South Otago

Middle name: Raymond

Test debut: v Australia at Hamilton, 3rd Test, 1999-2000

ODI debut: v Zimbabwe at Harare, 1st ODI, 2000-2001

Has taken a wicket in his first over (ODIs and tests) on 18 occasions.

Most memorable performance: six for 54 v England, 3rd test, 2001-2002