Daryl Tuffey established a reputation as world cricket's first-over specialist. He developed an amazing penchant for taking wickets in the first over he bowls, both in Tests and one-day internationals.

A strapping fast-medium bowler in the style of Richard Hadlee's partner of yesteryear Ewen Chatfield, Tuffey impresses as a stronger version and an admirable foil for fast bowler Shane Bond. After a quiet start, he settled into a quality groove as the sort of player capable of performing well on most surfaces.

His finest hour to date was 6 for 54 to help New Zealand tie the three-Test series with England at Auckland in 2001-02. A regular member of both the Test and one-day side, he was picked for New Zealand's 2004 tour of England. However, he then suffered a series of serious injuries including, in 2005, a damaged shoulder which kept him out of the New Zealand side for the best part of two years.

Consistent performances in state cricket kept him in the frame, but it was the injury to Kyle Mills which offered him a surprise recall for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and the 2007 World Cup. His results were distinctly underwhelming, however, and after one World Cup match he slipped quietly home mid-tournament with a recurrence of his previous shoulder injury.