Bond to make a welcome return to Kiwi ranks on Thursday

COLOMBO - New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, 34, will make a welcome return to top flight cricket when he squares up against Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 match in Colombo early tomorrow morning.

The man who bowls with his head as well as his heart reopens his international career at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Of course, expectations are unrealistic. Everyone wants the 34-year-old to send stumps flying in his first over and set New Zealand cricket back on course. But the reality is few at his age come back from 22 months in the international wilderness particularly when their lower back is full of wire and screws, reports the Dominion Post.

Bond has a few things going for him. He can bowl bumpers and yorkers but learned early in his craft that the best way to be successful was to attack the stumps. He also has great determination and can be a devastating competitor on his chosen day, particularly with the white ball, which is inclined to swing more generously than its red counterpart.

The last coach to watch Bond is Wellington’s Anthony Stuart. He was in charge of New Zealand A in India last month where Bond shook out the cobwebs against various fringe first-class sides.

Stuart arrived home at the weekend encouraged by what he saw, particularly in the final game when Bond took 2-18 from eight overs in a high scoring affair.

Stuart said Bond’s pace and fitness were good and he had his inswinger working nicely. (ANI)