Cricket: Bond returns to a familiar calamity

Shane Bond described the experience as "weird"; New Zealand cricket watchers would think of a different word.

Either way, when the Canterbury quick completed his five-wicket haul on his return to test cricket yesterday, he, and they, would have felt immense satisfaction.

He finished the job started so well on Thursday when he got promising Pakistani allrounder Mohammad Aamer caught at mid on, giving him figures of five for 107 off 27.5 overs.

How he's been missed. New Zealand have a clutch of worthy fast-medium operators, adept in either test or one-day cricket, occasionally both.

But New Zealand have lacked a cutting edge since Bond was exiled by his involvement with the Indian Cricket League. Twenty tests passed between his last appearance, at Johannesburg in November 2007 and this week.

He admitted it felt strange being back, steaming in wearing white with the silver fern. Not that the 34-year-old was complaining about it.

"I probably didn't expect to bowl 24 overs [on Thursday], but in general I was pretty happy to come through that," he said. "And it's always nice to get wickets."

Quite so, and firing the ball through at about 150km/h clearly gave New Zealand a boost. When you're on the receiving end of some heat treatment, it's always pleasing to be able to return it, and that's what Bond offers, on top of his wicket-taking ability.

There was an undeniable edge of excitement among the spectators as Bond was charging in, particularly during a three-over burst in which he took three wickets in 10 balls. There was delight at being able to watch something which had been sadly missing for too long from the team.

The five wickets took him to 84 halfway through his 18th test. It was his fifth five-wicket bag in tests.

Providing he stays fit and in form, he'll reach the century this summer. New Zealand have five more tests ahead, against Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia.

But New Zealand will need to take care. While Bond has to bowl his share of overs, particularly in the absence of an allrounder in the Jacob Oram mode, his case, and his history, demands a measure of caution.

"It was surreal in some aspects," Bond said of his return. "It's weird being here playing a test, but I suppose it's been good easing back through the Twenty20 and one-day cricket.

"There's still something special about test match cricket and it's a great environment to be back in."

Great to have him back, too.