A tall, lean left-armer O'Connor has the classical build for an over-the-wicket attacking bowler. After starting first-class cricket as a 21-year-old O'Connor relied very much on a short-of-a-length bounce attack. Then he changed, concentrating on bowling inswing, with sudden success against Australia and South Africa. A knee injury halted his 2000-01 season, and O'Connor spent the convalescing time eradicating a kink in his action, and finding even more inswing. O'Connor used to be a costly one-day bowler, but became much more effective with his changed style. But injuries and inability to find a regular place in the New Zealand side took their final toll. He announced his retirement after the 2003 World Cup, saying: "I've got an opportunity to get a business up and running and hopefully that's going to set me up for the rest of my life."
Don Cameron