Cricket: Bond back, Patel newcomer for Black Caps

Recalled Black Caps bowler Shane Bond made his bowling comeback from injury in a match for his club side Old Boys-Collegians at Hagley Park in January this year. Herald file picture

Shane Bond has been named in both the test and one-day New Zealand cricket team to tour Zimbabwe in August.

Wellington offspinner Jeetan Patel is the only newcomer, picked for the one-dayers.

Daryl Tuffy and Chris Harris have been left out of the tour, both given more time recover from their injuries and get back to fitness.

Fast bowler Bond recently returned to cricket after surgery to fix a back problem.

Though there were indications a few players would not tour Zimbabwe on moral grounds, none declared their unavailability.

"It is exciting to see Shane Bond back after a successful return to first class cricket," Black Caps coach John Bracewell said.

"We will monitor his progress in Australia with the Emerging Players team and expect that should he continue to progress well, we will see him return to international cricket at some stage during the Zimbabwe tour."

Bracewell said Tuffey would join Daniel Vettori, Chris Martin and Kyle Mills as extra players with the Emerging Players team going to Australia next week.

"Jeetan Patel has been selected for the one-day series as part of our buildup to the World Cup," Bracewell said.

"He bowled well at domestic level last season and has the ability to bowl under the bat and late in the innings.

"Spin bowlers of this type have been very successful in the West Indies."

* Test squad:

Stephen Fleming (captain) Daniel Vettori (vice-captain) Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Craig Cumming, James Franklin, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Paul Wiseman.

* One-day squad:

Stephen Fleming (captain), Daniel Vettori (vice-captain), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent.

- NZPA