Cricket: O'Brien puts hand up as Bond cursed again

Iain O'Brien is keen to step up in the absence of Shane Bond. Photo / Getty Images

Iain O'Brien has even fewer places to hide at the Basin Reserve now that fate has eliminated Shane Bond from the test cricket series against Pakistan.

O'Brien's dislocated middle finger - a focal point of the latter stages of New Zealand's stirring first test victory in Dunedin - was soon of secondary interest once it emerged Bond was in the wars yet again.

Minutes after a cheerful O'Brien explained how a bruised and swollen joint on his bowling hand would not prevent him playing in the second test starting in Wellington tomorrow, a glum Bond surprisingly announced his comeback was shortlived.

An abdominal tear was detected by scans yesterday, and although regarded as minor New Zealand Cricket has decided not to risk the pace spearhead here or for the third test in Napier.

The hope is that Bond will be available to play Bangladesh - and especially Australia - from February onwards.

The 34-year-old's latest injury now places more onus on O'Brien, the unfashionable right-armer who shared the kudos with Bond as Pakistan faltered at University Oval last Saturday.

Originally, Bond's return to test cricket after a two-year absence might have had a detrimental affect on O'Brien's career. Instead, the 33-year-old maintained his place and now rises a notch on the pecking order.

O'Brien seemed no certainty of backing up on his home ground after his finger was pushed back in place, a procedure that left him in obvious pain.

Adrenalin unleashed by the prospect of a test victory pulled him through, an X-ray on Monday cleared him of a break and a net session yesterday was also reassuring.

O'Brien doubted the swelling and discomfort would affect his delivery even if it was an important finger on his bowling hand.

He rolled his arm over in the nets and was pleased with the outcome.

"I bowled a couple to feel the finger and see how it came out," O'Brien said.

"It's just sore, there's no fractures, no nothing really, just a bit of bruising.

"I've just got to hope I don't get a bang on it when I'm bowling," he said smiling, as he remembered the trouble caused by dropping a hot drive from Kamran Akmal.

His grimace while New Zealand physiotherapist Kate Stalker reset the finger has been replayed regularly, although O'Brien was yet to view it.

"I'm keen to track it down in a bit of a sick way," he said.

"But I have seen the replays of us getting wickets and the celebrations at the end. That's pretty good fun."

O'Brien will protect the finger with a splint when fielding but the laws of the game prevent him from wearing it when bowling.

"I've got some toys to cover it with.

"With the cricket laws it'll be nude when I'm bowling then hopefully I can cover it up and keep some impact off it when I'm fielding.

"It'll be okay, I guess I have to try and hide it as much as I can when I'm fielding."

O'Brien is likely to perform his usual role at the Basin Reserve, chugging into the breeze while Chris Martin and Bond's replacement - probably Daryl Tuffey - have the breeze at their backs.

It is a responsibility O'Brien has become accustomed to during his 20-test career.

"It's part of my skill set, it's one of the things I do, bowling into the wind. There's no real difference from other places, there were a couple of decent breezes in Dunedin."

O'Brien was looking forward to exploiting a pitch expected to offer more bounce than its Dunedin counterpart.

"We should see a few more short balls, which should upset a couple of their batters," he said, adding the advantage worked both ways.

"They've got some bowlers that like to hit the deck as well, it will suit both teams."

- NZPA