Cricket: Tuffey to tell

Darryl Tuffey

There may be two key figures for New Zealand in today's finely-balanced opening game of the five-match one-day international cricket series against Sri Lanka -- paceman Darryl Tuffey and out-of-form all-rounder Scott Styris.

In a match where Auckland's woeful 'summer' weather seems likely to have a say, the pair shape as crucial factors in the game but for very different reasons. Tuffey is resuming his international career after injury while Styris has been searching for runs for some time.

New Zealand yesterday decided to name their team just before the match today but perhaps the most likely 12th man will be Ian Butler, now that Tuffey is back. Kyle Mills is another possibility but his batting helps New Zealand's usual formula of putting the opposition into bat first (if they win the toss) and then having the confidence in a deep batting line-up to chase just about any total.

Tuffey's return to the bowling crease went well, as he picked up seven wickets in the opening two rounds of the State Championship. But, as Tuffey himself acknowledges, international cricket is a big step up and Sri Lanka have some dashing blades in Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene -- not to mention a fine record in New Zealand. Sri Lanka claimed a 4-1 victory here in 2001 when their star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan -- now sidelined in the aftermath of shoulder surgery -- played a big role.

No Murali and the loss of tall left-armer Nuwan Zoysa to injury may help Styris who is enduring a rare form cloud following a forgettable six months. Having averaged just 18 from five innings during New Zealand's NatWest Series victory in England, before stringing together scores of 0, 5 and 5 in three one-day innings against Australia, Styris needs to start the home summer strongly - and likes Eden Park.

A year ago he cracked a memorable 101 not out to win the series opener against Pakistan, then returned in March with one of the great New Zealand test innings, 170 against South Africa, in their nine-wicket win.

"I can't put my finger on it, I've been trying to work it out," Styris said of his apparent fondness for the ground.

Styris said ill-discipline rather than lack of form has cost him his wicket cheaply in recent times.

"It's really just been 20s and 30s for me and that doesn't win games. I'd be worried if I was scoring nought after nought, but even in the Australia tests I was facing 40-50 balls," he said of his failures against Australia's crack bowling line up. "I just need to concentrate longer and not bring out the big shots too early."

Styris got New Zealand's home season off to a flyer a year ago at Eden Park by guiding home their chase for 230 with 10 fours and two sixes over cover off Pakistan pacemen Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed in his 108-ball knock.

However, the Eden Park drop-in pitch has always offered early seam movement for the pacemen and recent heavy rain in Auckland would only have enhanced that. Sri Lanka, even without Murali and Zoysan, still have premier one-day bowler Chaminda Vaas and young paceman Dilhara Fernando whom several leading batsmen rate as "slippery".

Both sides have records which build confidence -- New Zealand have won 18 of their 22 one-day matches in 2004 and Sri Lanka has won 20 of 27.

Styris said there was little to split the two sides. "They're a little bit like us, a workmanlike side without superstars, and they do the basics very well."

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

Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Saman Jayantha, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY