Cricket: Bond to miss second test

7.30am - By MARK GEENTY

LONDON - New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond will miss the second cricket test against England next week and his future on the tour is in doubt as team management await the results of a bone scan on his injured back.

Bond has been troubled by soreness in his back since the tour match against Kent more than a week ago and medical opinion was sought today.

He underwent a bone scan in London before the team departed for their four-day tour match against Leicestershire starting on Friday, and the results will be assessed tomorrow.

They will be compared with an earlier scan on Bond's lower back after he suffered the stress fracture in Sri Lanka last May.

Manager Lindsay Crocker said today Bond would miss the Leicestershire match, and therefore would not be ready for the second test at least.

But he said no decision had yet been made on his future and no one had been placed on standby.

"We don't want to speculate until there is a definite answer tomorrow," Crocker said.

"There is no thought of replacements yet.

"We want to be very careful with him, hopefully he'll get through tomorrow and we can work on getting him right."

The news on Bond is a further blow for New Zealand after their seven-wicket loss to England in the first test yesterday, when they looked in desperate need of his extra pace.

Northern District pace bowler Ian Butler is in line to replace Bond if required, having recovered from surgery on his foot last month while medium pacer Michael Mason is also in London and could be considered.

Meanwhile, Crocker said allrounder Jacob Oram was recovering well from his side strain suffered yesterday. He will miss the Leicestershire match but it was still hoped he would ready for the second test at Leeds starting on Thursday next week.

Otago wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins joined the team today and will play against Leicestershire, with regular gloveman Brendon McCullum playing as a batsman only.

Opener Mark Richardson will be given a rest after his epic 13-1/2 hour effort at Lords.

- NZPA