Cricket: Bond gets chance to play for NZ again

Shane Bond. Photo / Simon Baker

The ball is in Shane Bond's court as to whether he plays international cricket again, according to the national body.

Yesterday's decision by New Zealand Cricket to open the door to the players who joined the privately run Indian Cricket League over the past two years - once they have been proved to have severed all links with the organisation - clears the way for New Zealand's finest fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee to return.

"It would be great to have Shane back," New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum told the Herald from England last night.

"Everyone that follows New Zealand cricket has wanted him in the team for the whole time he's been away. He's an experienced bowler, one of the world's best and he's still got those smarts and that professionalism. And he's a bloody good bloke."

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said it was a policy decision by the board rather than specifically with Bond, or fellow fast bowler Daryl Tuffey - the only other ICL-contracted player rated a realistic chance to return to the national side - in mind.

The first occasion Bond, or possibly Tuffey, could be chosen for New Zealand would be the tour of Sri Lanka in August-September, and a New Zealand A tour of India, still being finalised, around the same time.

Vaughan's understanding is that Tuffey's situation is further advanced than Bond's. Bond is still working through his contract with the Delhi Giants franchise.

"It's all predicated on them actually exciting the ICL and satisfying us of that situation," Vaughan added. "We need to be clear that [those] contracts have been closed off."

Bond's position was "still a work in progress" Vaughan said, but added that having him free to play for New Zealand again would be terrific for the game in this country.

"You want to be able to pick the best players and we [are] only fortunate to get world-class players every so often."

He also hoped the board's decision would afford the national selectors some surety in their planning for tours in the next few months.

Bond, who turns 34 this Sunday, has indicated he is keen to play all forms of cricket again for New Zealand, after turning out for Canterbury in limited-overs cricket last summer.

His last test was in Johannesburg in late 2007; his last ODI was at the World Cup in April that year. He has taken 79 wickets in his 17 tests at a fine 22.39 apiece; in 67 ODIs he has taken a remarkable 125 wickets at just 19.32 each.

He was unavailable last night and is on holiday overseas but his manager Leanne McGoldrick said it was "certainly Shane's desire to return to international cricket and he's working towards being eligible for selection for the Black Caps".

Since his last test and ODI, both through injury and the ICL, Bond has missed 18 tests and 39 ODIs.

Tuffey, 31 next Thursday, had a strong domestic season for Auckland last summer. He has played 22 tests for 66 wickets and 80 ODIs, which have produced 91 wickets.

Other former internationals who signed with the ICL, which seems to be dying and owing money to many players, included Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Hamish Marshall, Lou Vincent, Adam Parore, Craig McMillan and Andre Adams.