Cricket: Bond ruled out of first test, on target for second

1.00pm

CANTERBURY, England - New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond is on track for a comeback in the second cricket test against England at Headingley in a fortnight, coach John Bracewell says.

The pace bowling spearhead was today ruled out of the first test starting at Lord's on Thursday after not being called on to bowl in the second innings of New Zealand's nine-wicket loss here to Kent.

Bond took one for 77 off 16 overs in the first innings at often hostile pace, but was still working back to full fitness in his comeback from a stress fracture in his lower back.

"He's struggling with the combination of getting himself physically right, and cricket fitness," Bracewell said.

"We're happy with how he's holding his action together under fatigue, which was the biggest concern.

"Really, it's a cricket fitness issue more than a technical one. He's still on target for our original plan, which is to have him ready for the second test (starting on June 3)."

Bond has exceeded expectations in his comeback, having last played for New Zealand in the one-day series in Sri Lanka last May when he suffered the injury.

The fracture returned late last year when Bond attempted a comeback, resulting in a remodelling of his bowling action, with his hips more side-on to ease the stress on his back.

Bond seemed to have lost none of his 150km/h pace and Bracewell said all was well, so far.

"He's getting all the things a club cricketer picks up coming in from the off season -- blisters, rashes and stiffness in the sides, but they're not structural problems, which is a huge relief."

Bond's absence means the test pace attack, in order of appearance, will be Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin, Jacob Oram and Chris Cairns.

Bracewell said Oram, who was rested for the match against Kent, had overcome a minor back problem suffered in the first week of the tour.

When Bond returns to test cricket he is on track to beat Martin's New Zealand record of the least tests needed to reach 50 wickets.

Martin reached the mark in 13 tests in March against South Africa, but Bond sits on 43 wickets from just 10 tests.

- NZPA