Cricket: Five-wicket haul cements Tuffey's role

By RICHARD BOOCK


It wasn't that long ago that you could drop Daryl Tuffey from the New Zealand team without being labelled stark-raving bonkers.

The tall Northern Districts seamer, whose blossoming reputation was given a further boost yesterday with a five-wicket bag against Pakistan, endured the sort of start to his career that might have traumatised a lesser spirit.

There was no honeymoon for Tuffey. He was pasted all over Hamilton's Westpac Park on debut three years ago and went wicketless in his first three test innings, at which stage he was sporting the less-than-desirable figures of none for 223 off 46 overs.

It hadn't even been his fault. The young paceman found himself on the well-documented Invalids tour of 2000, when most of the fast bowlers returned home in full-length plaster-casts, and numerous other series-ending injuries were suffered.

With all due respect to Tuffey, those were the days when he won his inclusion on the basis that there was no one else.

Nowadays, he gets picked before anyone else, at least in terms of the pace attack.

The 25-year-old has slowly but surely reclaimed lost ground, first patching together an imposing record on home soil, then addressing what used to be considered his weakness: his form outside New Zealand.

His new-found confidence has been noticeable during the first test against Pakistan, which is being played on a pitch that is not calculated to bring joy to the heart of a seam bowler, and is almost certain to produce a draw.

For all that, Tuffey's performance yesterday with the second new ball was something to behold, the right-armer learning from the errors of the previous day and bowling a fuller length, giving himself a better chance of gaining a breakthrough.

He troubled Inzamam-ul-Haq, recognising that the Pakistan captain was reluctant to come forward, and worked him over like an old pro before trapping him in front with a well-pitched-up inswinger.

Tuffey, whose three wickets the previous day had included the prize dismissal of Yasir Hameed when he was on 80, then probed and examined the technique of Abdur Razzaq before strangling him down the legside.

It was his second five-wicket bag - he took six for 54 against England last year - although yesterday's milestone was possibly the better performance, given the conditions.

Against England he made the most of a greenish drop-in pitch to propel New Zealand towards a series-saving test win.

But yesterday's success was more the result of persistency, accuracy and a good deal of patience.

Now a vital cog in the New Zealand team, he is the guitar player, the jester and - just as importantly - a senior member of the bowling attack. And the statistics make interesting reading.

Tuffey's five-wicket haul took his test tally to 60, one ahead of former New Zealand captain Bevan Congdon, two ahead of Martin Snedden, and just behind three of the country's best-known seam bowlers, Frank Cameron (62), Tony MacGibbon (70) and Dayle Hadlee (71).

Of his 60 wickets, no fewer than 43 have been snared on home soil at an astonishing average of 18.86, including 20 in four matches at Hamilton at 17.20.

His concerns abroad are highlighted by the bare numbers - nine tests and 17 wickets at 45.23, although there was general optimism that the big man was starting to adjust better during this year's tour of India.

He should not be too worried in any case.

Unless coach John Bracewell takes complete leave of his senses, there will be many more opportunities.