Haidee Tiffen

Haidee Tiffen was acknowledged as one of the best allrounders in the world. She made her debut for the White Ferns at the age of 19 against the visiting South African side in 1998-99, and further improved her cricket that winter at the New Zealand Cricket Academy intake. She also played domestic cricket in England.

Batting in the middle order, Tiffen typically built her innings by mixing outright attack with efficient run-accumulation. As a change bowler, she was a consistent performer, achieving good line and length at a lively medium-pace. Her running between the wickets was legendary, as was her skill in the field.

In 2006 she was one of the seven players to be shortlisted for the ICC's Women's Player of the Year Award, which was eventually won by Karen Rolton.

After being part of New Zealand's victorious World Cup campaign on home soil in 2000, Tiffen led her side to the 2009 final in Australia, where New Zealand lost to England by four wickets. She starred with the bat in the Super Six match against Pakistan, scoring her first century, to help her team win by 223 runs. She ended the tournament as the second highest run-scorer with 279 from six matches at 46.50. Tiffen announced her decision to retire from international cricket soon after the World Cup, saying it was the right time to move on to other aspects of her life.

She teaches physical education at Hillmorton High School, in Christchurch.

Although she played representative hockey and rugby, cricket is her passion. She was one of the first intake in the female academy in Lincoln and played two winters for Sussex.

Cricinfo staff March 2009