Fearsomely fast Bond had lazy trundle to top

Shane Bond is a man making up for lost time. The recently retired Black Caps fast bowler has just released a book and been appointed Central Districts assistant coach - all in the same week.
Throw in some Sky TV commentary work and you've got a guy in quite a hurry.
It's hard to believe he didn't play for New Zealand until he was 26, but in the following 10 years he made up for lost time to become New Zealand's most feared fast bowler since Richard Hadlee.
The genial former policeman's autobiography was motivated by an urge to record a legacy.
"It felt right to have something to pass on to your kids and grandchildren - you never know what's going to happen tomorrow, so it's a good legacy to pass on in case you get hit by a bus," he says with a laugh.
The book makes interesting reading, and not only for cricket aficionados, because Bond is an interesting guy.
He came to top-level cricket late, but more than compensated for his slow start.
"Even though the book was always going to be based around cricket - I tried to stay away from the runs and wickets of the game and focused on trying to come up with something to interest everyone," he says.
Bond played during interesting times: he received a test ban for playing in the Indian Cricket League and was involved in the 2002 cricket players' strike.
"There were a few things that went on that weren't all that well known ... so I tried to give an insight into what it was like on the other side," he says.
"They alway say that politics and sport don't mix - but they are always inter-twined - and I tried to give a different perspective on those issues from the way they played out in the media."
His ongoing battle with stress fractures in his back regrettably restricted his playing time for New Zealand, but Bond has no real complaints.
"I'd have loved to have taken the injuries out, obviously, but probably my biggest frustration, looking back on my career, was that I'd liked to have played more test cricket," Bond says.
"Although 18 tests still felt like a lot to me, I'd loved to have played more.
"But I suppose if I hadn't been adversely affected by injury then I might not have turned out to be the player or person I am today, so I guess it turned out pretty well in the end." The early stages of the book are Bond's favourites.
He describes himself as a late starter, which was in keeping with his career.
"I was a kid lacking confidence and finding things too hard, but then I began to gradually change into who I am today," he says.
"I was a late bloomer because I was lazy and didn't back myself - but I've managed to turn it around, so I wanted to show others that they can do it as well ..."
Now he's in a hurry to catch up.