Cricket: Tuffey back in black for one-dayers against Sri Lanka

Darryl Tuffey. Picture / Hawkes Bay Today

Tall seam bowler Daryl Tuffey has been rushed back into the New Zealand squad for the one-day cricket series against Sri Lanka.

Tuffey was included in the 12-man squad named today for the opening three games in the five-match series starting in Auckland on December 26.

Missing from a larger one-day squad who played in Australia last week are middle order batsman Craig McMillan, injured allrounder Chris Harris and Andre Adams.

Tuffey, who missed the recent tours of Bangladesh and Australia as he continued recovering from a knee injury, has proven himself in the opening two rounds of the domestic State Championship.

In two first-class games against Auckland and Central Districts, Tuffey has taken 11 wickets at an average of 15.45.

He was named in the squad in place of Harris, who seriously injured a shoulder last week against Australia in Sydney and will miss the entire series against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell welcomed Tuffey's return.

He last played a one-day international against the United States during the ICC Champions Trophy in England in September.

"He has obviously picked up the workload," Bracewell said of Tuffey, who has bowled almost 78 overs in three innings at first-class level since December 6.

Bracewell said the non-selection of McMillan -- who also lost his place in the test team in Australia last month -- was purely down to the fact he had limited opportunities in Australia while Mathew Sinclair had taken his chances.

"We were particularly impressed with the shift of Hamish Marshall to five in the batting order and how he worked with one, the big hitters, and two, the scramblers in terms of turning over the strike.

"With (Brendon) McCullum and Marshall either side of Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram it gives us good strength in the finishing overs."

Bracewell said the selection panel had decided to stick with a squad of 12 players for the first three games to allow as many players in the frame as possible to remain in cricket.

"With domestic cricket on at the same time, where it is logistically possible in terms of travel, we will attempt to release the 12th man to domestic cricket to keep him match fit."

Team: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Ian Butler, Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori.

- NZPA