Cricket: Bond gets some good news

New Zealand team management are determined to get star fast bowler Shane Bond fit for the one-day series after bone scans revealed his back soreness was caused by soft tissue damage rather than a dreaded stress fracture.

Manager Lindsay Crocker said last night that Bond was almost certainly out of the three-match test series, but after two or three days' rest he would begin building up with an eye to the opening Tri-Series one-day match against England in Manchester on June 24.

Bond, 29 next month, had his bone scans discussed by New Zealand Cricket's doctor Rob Campbell and respected London sports physician Chris Broadshaw.

They determined Bond's discomfort probably was not a recurrence of the stress fracture which kept him out of international cricket for the past year.

"It's a very small area and the scan wasn't 100 per cent conclusive, but they felt it was more than likely soft tissue damage," Crocker said.

"We're giving him seven days then we will reassess it, and make a decision whether to press on or send him home."

Meanwhile, the cavalry are being summoned from all over the English countryside as potential cover for Bond and allrounder Jacob Oram, who is battling a side strain.

Paceman Michael Mason will arrive from his South London club today to train with the non-players during the four-day match against Leicestershire, while other England-based former test pacemen, James Franklin and Andre Adams, are also being contacted.

Ian Butler, Bond's likely replacement, remains on standby in New Zealand.

Crocker said Oram's injury had improved further yesterday.

- NZPA