Tuffey played a number of ODIs over the Northern summer of 2001 before straining a hamstring during the 2001–02 tour of Australia. He didn't play again on tour of Australia, but returned for the ODIs against England in February, before taking match figures of nine for 116 on his return to Test cricket in March 2002. The figures were enough to secure Man of the Match honours once again, as New Zealand won the third Test against England by 78 runs and tied the series 1–1.