Cricket: Fitness worries over Tuffey continue

1.00pm

Concern remains over the fitness of New Zealand bowling spearhead Daryl Tuffey for the cricket tours of Bangladesh and Australia after he was forced to miss today's Champions Trophy loss to Australia.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell admitted the worry lines remained as Tuffey's horror year continued when he was omitted in favour of swing bowler Kyle Mills for today's seven-wicket loss which ended the Black Caps' tournament in England.

This time it was bruising to Tuffey's troublesome knees, the left of which has caused problems this year with a slight tear to the patella tendon.

"There is severe bruising around his knees from diving in the outfield, and there is concern over how easily he is bruising," Bracewell said.

"He will need to be checked up again when we get home."

Tuffey, with 22 tests and 71 one-day internationals to his credit, has battled knee, thigh and hip injuries this year after becoming New Zealand's leading strike bowler in 2003.

He needed to have blood drained from a haematoma to his thigh before the winter tour of England, and opted against an operation on his nagging knee tendon problem.

Tuffey was down on pace during the winter tour of England and was dropped for the third test.

He was also below his best for the Champions Trophy opener against the United States last week when he went wicketless.

"He didn't bowl particularly well against the US ... it is a worry for us," Bracewell said.

New Zealand now return home before heading to Bangladesh early next month for two tests and three one-day internationals, before going to Australia for two tests and three one-dayers.

- NZPA