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Two contrasting comeback trails cross at world cricket's southernmost venue on Tuesday as fast bowlers Shane Bond and Mohammad Asif end their two-year exodus from Test action.
And there could yet be a third happy ending at University Oval if Daryl Tuffey nails New Zealand's third seamer's berth and play his first Test since June 2004 in England.
While Bond and Tuffey experienced an unfair share of disruptive injuries before joining Twenty20s unsanctioned Indian Cricket League, Pakistan's Asif has been blighted by more than a persistent elbow injury.
Almost five years after making his debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Asif has made only 10 other Test appearances.
A failed test for the banned steroid nandrolone three years ago and then being caught in possession of a quantity of opium at Dubai Airport in June last year ensures the 26-year-old is Pakistan's most controversial talent - eclipsing old partner in crime Shoaib Akhtar.
Asif and Akhtar were embroiled in the nandrolone scandal and were banned for a year and two years respectively until successfully appealing the sentence.
Akhtar's heir apparent then got in more strife as he returned from Indian Premier League duty last year when customs officials detected a quantity of opium - an indiscretion that saw him held for 19 days then deported and barred from returning to the United Arab Emirates.
Given the UAE is Pakistan's adopted home since the security situation makes it impractical for them to host series, Asif's blunder was potentially costly.
He would have been involved in the limited overs series against New Zealand earlier this month in Abu Dhabi and Dubai but instead had to wait for a first Test cap since playing South Africa at Lahore in October 2007.
Despite his chequered history, Asif was a certainty to form a three-pronged pace attack with Umar Gul and teenage tearaway Mohammad Aamer in the first of three Tests.
A haul of 11 for 71 propelled Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka in 2006 - the highlight of 51 Test wickets at 23.13.
Now a reformed character, Asif was anxious to atone for stalling his Test career.
"I have lost two crucial years of my career, first because of injury and then because of other problems. Now I want to focus on my game and take wickets and help my team win."
Pakistani management are confident Asif can repent in the best way possible, his selection was assured once he was under bowled in last week's tour match in Queenstown against an Invitation 11.
"Asif's blessed with so much talent and ability," enthused Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam.
"He hasn't played too much cricket since his comeback but he shouldn't have any problems. He's a matchwinner, there's no doubt about it, and he has to prove it again."
In that regard, he and Bond again share common ground.
The 34-year-old retired from tests after New Zealand were thumped at The Wanderers. He blamed the five-day format for the majority of his injuries, and inadvertently New Zealand's batsmen who rarely occupied the crease long enough for him to recover.
He may lack the zip of his pomp in 2001-03 but his experience is vital alongside fellow veteran Chris Martin.
Bond has 79 wickets from just 17 Tests at 22.39 and thankfully for captain Daniel Vettori a comeback that began with T20s and ODIs in Sri Lanka in August has so far been injury-free.
A significant piece of the jigsaw puzzle slotted into place in Rangiora last week when Bond bowled 40 overs during Canterbury's Plunket Shield match against Otago.
"I think he got his peace of mind from the last game," Vettori said.
"He's had a nice build-up through the one-dayers, he feels comfortable being back in the team. He's looking forward to it."
The summer of cricket is almost upon us and once again, tvnz.co.nz is the place to go for all your cricketing needs.
As well as the usual reports and scorecards from matches both home and abroad, tvnz.co.nz will bring you full LIVE text commentary of Black Caps matches throughout the summer.
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