Cricket: Bond may be back, but don't expect miracles

Although they are a few sizes too small, Jacob Oram is glad he's not in Shane Bond's shoes as the fast bowler bids to make a comeback from a long-term back injury.

The 29-year-old Bond bowled in a competitive match for the first time in eight months last weekend when he played Christchurch club cricket, but many have reacted to his return to competitive cricket like it's the second coming.

"I'm glad that I'm not in his shoes because he's played only a handful of matches for New Zealand," Oram said of his sometimes Black Caps team-mate. "When he hits the park fully fit, so much is going to be expected of him and he needs to be pretty thick-skinned to block all of that out and concentrate on his actual bowling.

"I'm sure he'll be able to do that and I'm sure the results will come, but to be almost tagged as the saviour of our bowling line-up might be a little unwarranted."

Bond has targeted the one-day series against Australia starting next month as a possibility but, for the time being, he's happy to be playing club cricket until he's fully fit.

"I can't wait to have him back and I just hope that he comes back from this injury and bowls as well as he can because he's a massive weapon when he can do that," Oram said.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY