Cricket: National nail-biting wait for Bond sequel

Shane Bond's been dogged by back and IPL problems. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand cricket will collectively hold their breath in the coming days as Shane Bond's comeback to the national team takes decisive steps in India.

Bond, the best quick New Zealand have had since Sir Richard Hadlee in 1990, is in India with New Zealand A for a series of two-day matches in the Buchi Babu All India tournament in Chennai.

The first of two warm up games start today. All going well, he'll then join the senior side in Sri Lanka for their one-day tri-series against the hosts and India.

Bond's battles are well documented; both against a debilitating back problem and within the context of the rival Indian Twenty20 organisations. He signed for the Indian Cricket League, and was shut out of playing for New Zealand when Indian Premier League heavies leaned on New Zealand Cricket.

But he has always been a forthright character, and at 34 he's relishing what he calls a second chance.

"I've been working hard over the last few months. It's exciting," he said. "The important thing for me is not to try and achieve everything in one week."

Glucose injections in his lower back have helped reduce stiffness and he has worked up decent speed in his preparations, while remaining coy on specific numbers.

Bond has never made any secret of his desire to regain his pace before health and cricket politics conspired against him.

His figures are compelling; 79 test wickets in 17 tests at 22.39 apiece; 125 wickets in 67 ODIs at just 19.32 each. His ambition is fierce.

"If I didn't think I could do what I did last time I wouldn't be doing it. I never wanted to come back as a shadow of the bowler I was," he said.

New Zealand could do with some cheer, after the Emerging Players managed a solitary win out of nine games in their quadrangular tournament in Brisbane against Indian, South African and Australian counterparts. The senior team began their Sri Lankan tour last night against formidable, in-form opponents.

The danger is loading too much expectation on Bond, but he's the New Zealand cricket figure of most interest in the next few weeks.