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Scroll down to listen to Richard Boock's preview of the first test bewteen New Zealand and Sri Lanka
CHRISTCHURCH - You get the feeling that if Stephen Fleming had his way, Shane Bond would have been bubble-wrapped overnight, forced to sleep in an oxygen mask, and delivered
to Jade Stadium this morning by a team of paramedics.
Such has been the frustration over the fast bowler's availability, and particularly his long wait to play his first test in hometown Christchurch, that no precautionary exercise wouldsurprise.
Bond, with only 14 caps since his debut in 2001, missed both tests played at Christchurch since then - the 2002 match against England and the outing two summers ago against Australia - through injury.
But barring more mishaps, the injury-ravaged paceman will make his debut this morning, when the first test starts against Sri Lanka.
"I can't wait - it's been a long time between drinks, and I'm really looking forward to what will be a very brief opportunity to play test cricket," Bond said yesterday.
"I've prepared well, I feel in really good shape and I'm just jumping out of my skin to get on with it."
Even discounting his multiple back injuries, Bond has had a scarcely-believable run of misfortune.
He missed the second test against the West Indies last summer because of a stomach bug, and was then forced out of the South Africa tour with a knee strain.
But the man who, in 2004, had two vertebrae fused and bound with titanium wire, has shown strong early-season form for Canterbury this summer, and says he's more than happy with his fitness.
"I'm still pretty happy with how the past year-and-a-half's gone, particularly after what I've been through," he said.
"I was really pleased with my workload with Canterbury. I bowled 40 overs, got it through as fast as I have for a long time, and sustained that pace."
Fleming, who today has to omit Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin or James Franklin from his 12, said the sight of Bond bowling on his home ground should make the test even more attractive for the Canterbury public.
"It'll be exciting for the Canterbury crowd to see him," said Fleming. "There's been a lot of rugby played here lately but having test cricket and Bondy on show will be a good thing.
"I'm pretty sure he'll bowl fast, and that's always good to watch - especially from first slip."
The slightly anxious New Zealand skipper said his fast-bowler could have slept at home last night but agreed to stay at the team hotel, if only to reduce the feeling of paranoia about his well-being.
Even the training ground was becoming a hotbed of apprehension.
"I almost clocked him today with a mistimed pull-shot, and that caused a few flutters," said Fleming.
New Zealand go into today's test with a new opening pairing in Craig Cumming and Jamie How, and a new No 3 in the recalled Mathew Sinclair.
Fleming said it was critical the new batting order found success.
"The onus is on the top-order," he said. "It's an area we have to get right in both forms of the game."
It was doubly important that the top order fired against Sri Lanka because of the threat spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and paceman Lasith Malinga posed.
"So we've really got to do the job at the top and make sure we don't expose the tail too quickly."
New Zealand paceman Michael Mason was yesterday ruled out with a hamstring strain.
NZ v SRI LANKA
First test starting in Christchurch today
NEW ZEALAND: Stephen Fleming (c), Jamie How, Craig Cumming, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
SRI LANKA: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Akalanka Ganegama.
Black Caps record at Jade Stadium
Factbox on New Zealand's test cricket record since defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the third test at Jade Stadium (formerly Lancaster Park) in 1993-94.
1995-96 v West Indies - draw
1995-96 v Pakistan - lost by 161 runs
1996-97 v England - lost by four wickets
1998-99 v South Africa - draw
2000-01 v Pakistan - draw
2001-02 v England - lost by 98 runs
2004-05 v Australia - lost by 9 wickets
Overall test record at Jade Stadium since the ground's maiden test was played against England in 1930: Played 39, won 7 lost 16, drew 16.
- NZ HERALD, NZPA