Back and knee injuries brought a premature end to Simon Doull's career. He was taken to the 1999 World Cup but was not required in the starting eleven, and then was selected for the first Test against England but suffered a serious knee injury requiring surgery. He fought his way back to fitness and was picked for the final two one-dayers and first two Tests against Australia at the tailend of the summer. Unfortunately he was unable to trouble the Australian batsmen and lost his place for the final Test to his Northern Districts teammate, Daryl Tuffey. His undoubted career highlight was his 7 for 65 in the inaugural Boxing Day Test against India in 1998. The performance was a personal best, and the fourth best by a New Zealander in Test cricket. It included the first five Indian batsmen and set the scene for a New Zealand victory. He made a seamless transition to the commentary box, and briefly flirted with a comeback in 2002-03 after playing a season in Netherlands.
Wisden Cricinfo staff