Cricket: A difficult assignment for Mr Bond

Shane Bond

As far as comebacks go, it doesn't get any tougher. Shane Bond will face the one team he has most struggled against, in conditions he has faltered in before.

New Zealand plays South Africa in their opening match of the Champions Trophy at Mumbai tomorrow in heat and humidity.

The Canterbury speedster will return from a knee injury that has kept him out of the game since March but it could be the heat as much as Herschelle Gibbs and co that gives Bond the most grief.

A reporter covering Friday's warm-up match against Baroda listed Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori and Bond as the three players who most obviously struggled in the strength-sappingconditions.

Forecasters are predicting a high of 33 degrees, with a lung-searing 80 per cent humidity (in a city that could never list clean air as one of its attractions) for tomorrow's match.

Apart from the alien conditions, New Zealand also have several bowlers returning from mid- to long-term injuries who would appreciate a less dramatic re-acclimatisation into international cricket.

Bond, 31, has struggled desperately in the heat before, most notably at Brisbane in 2002 when he was taken from the field during a game against Australia A and placed in hospital on an intravenous drip.

South Africa are one of only two sides, along with the West Indies, that can claim to have played Bond with any comfort during his 45-match ODI career.

The 34.57 he averages per wicket against them is almost double his overall average of 18.63, the best record of any ODI bowler with more than 75 wickets. He also has the best strike rate in history, taking a wicket every 26.5 balls.

Bond's importance to the side cannot be over-rated.

Since he began his career, New Zealand has won 53.3 per cent of the matches Bond has played in. In the 67 matches Bond has missed through injury, New Zealand's winning percentage drops to 46.3.

One player appearing to relish the step up is Wellington paceman Mark Gillespie.

John Bracewell and Stephen Fleming will appreciate that South Africa represent a far greater challenge than the collective might of a Mumbai President's XI and Baroda but they can hardly have asked him to do anything more than the 6-56 he's taken in 17 overs so far.

New Zealand scored a comfortable 59-run win, piling up 267 for eight before restricting Baroda to 208 for nine.

New Zealand, captained by Daniel Vettori after Stephen Fleming was rested, benefited from Scott Styris' 52 before he retired hurt after suffering cramping. Hamish Marshall (40), Lou Vincent (36) and Bond (43) were the main contributors.

Marshall's two 40s in the warm-up matches, along with Lou Vincent's good form on Friday, would make Peter Fulton the logical batsman to miss the South African clash.

Nathan Astle has had two failures but his ability to bowl a few overs could prove useful.

Possible New Zealand XII: Stephen Fleming (c), Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Mark Gillespie (one to be omitted).

- HERALD ON SUNDAY