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New Zealand's one day prospects have slumped to a new low after news that Shane Bond has suffered a potentially careeer-ending injury.
The 31-year-old strike bowler was unable to complete his 10 overs against England yesterday, bowling five overs in his first spell but only returning for three more before leaving the field with a back strain.
Skipper Stephen Fleming was last night attempting to play down the setback by claiming the injury wasn't necessarily another stress-fracture.
"At the moment we're hoping it's muscular," Fleming said of his spearhead. "It's been around for a while and it seems to get stiff when we play two games in three days.
"But fingers crossed. We're always worried about him. He's such an integral part of our side. We're always a better team when he's playing, and whenever he's not right it sends a shiver through the camp."
Given Bond's history of back injury, including a major operation that forced him to miss the 2004-05 summer, there are genuine fears that last night's problem could spell the end of his tri-series and World Cup dream, if not his career.
Bond's career has already been ravaged by injury. He was forced out of the tour of Sri Lanka in 2003 with back problems; he was invalided out of the 2004 tour of England, and he was forced to return from last year's tour of South Africa with a knee complaint.
But yesterday's withdrawal was the first involving his back since his operation near the end of 2004, when he had two vertebrae fused together and reinforced with titanium wire and bone grafts taken from his hip.
In the event he may have to be replaced, New Zealand coach John Bracewell is likely to consider the credentials of the remaining pace bowlers in his World Cup squad of 30, in which case Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin should be the front-runners.
New Zealand play their next tri-series match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
- Additional reporting NEWSTALK ZB
