Kiwi fast bowler Daryl Tuffey calls time on playing career

New Zealand fast bowler Daryl Tuffey has announced retirement from all forms of cricket to concentrate on work commitments, and specifically to pursue a job opportunity in Australia

Tuffey represented local teams Auckland, Northern Districts and New Zealand over the course of his career, picking up 77 test wickets and 110 ODI wickets in 123 international matches

The pace man forced his way into the New Zealand team at the age of 21 in 1999, and it was the start of an 11-year career in the national team that involved a two-year gap due to his participation in the now-defunct Indian rebel league, the ICL

Tuffey missed almost the whole of last season through injury and that played and important role in helping him to come to his retirement decision, but he feels proud to have represented his country at the international level

"I've had a few different injuries recently, and they do get tougher to come back from. It's probably been my one major regret in cricket that I haven't spent as much time on the field as I would have liked, but it's part and parcel of playing the game," Stuff.co.nz quoted Tuffey, as saying

"There aren't many people who get the chance to get paid for playing the game they love, and I feel really lucky that I've been able to do that. It's been an honour to represent my country and to be able to do so in some great places around the world has been a bonus," he added.