Cricket: Hard toil needed, says Bond

New Zealand needs to produce cricket pitches that make bowlers work harder if it wants to develop express pacemen like Australian Brett Lee, Shane Bond believes.

Bond said he preferred bowling on flat wickets because it prepared him for international level.

"I think for us to succeed internationally, we need wickets where we have bowlers who need to work hard and bowl quick to get wickets," the Black Cap, who is working his way back from injury, said.

"If you can just run in and bowl with a lack of energy and allow the wicket to do the work, then you are not going to succeed at the next level up."

Before Bond suffered a series of stress fractures in his back, the Cantabrian was capable of deliveries of 150km/h or more.

This ability gave New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming a genuine world-class option with the new ball.

But since his injury, the Black Caps' bowling attack has been notable for its lack pace.

- NZPA