Cricket: Bond - mission accomplished

Dion Ebrahim (right) is one of Shane Bond's 10 victims. Picture / Reuters

Shane Bond will bask in the African sun with plenty of time to eye his next target after a memorable return to test cricket.

New Zealand's premier fast-bowler completed a man-of-the-match performance with a haul of 10 for 99 as the tourists steamrolled a struggling Zimbabwe side by an innings and 46 runs in the second test at Bulawayo.

It was a glowing pass mark for the Canterbury speedster after 27 months off the test scene with back stress fractures.

He took his career tally to 56 wickets from 12 tests at an average of 20.80, breaking the New Zealand record for the least number of tests to reach 50 wickets.

That was previously held by team-mate Chris Martin, who took 13 tests to reach the mark.

"That's what's driven me on, a few of those milestones I wanted to achieve," Bond told Radio Sport.

"I've just got to keep working hard and hopefully I can tick them off as I go along. I feel like I'm in better condition now. I'm fitter, stronger and a smarter cricketer."

New Zealand's next test is not until March, against the West Indies at home.

Bond's second-innings haul of four for 48 ensured another woefully one-sided contest as Zimbabwe were skittled for 207 in their second innings with more than two days to spare.

It means more idle time for New Zealand, who will likely fill the next week with net practice, sunbathing, golf and perhaps a game park visit.

Their next match is on Wednesday, when the one-day tri-series opens against Zimbabwe, with the first proper contest two days later against India.

A New Zealand Cricket spokesman said no extra activities were yet planned for the side, with community visits and school coaching needing to be initiated by the host nation.

To date the off-field highlights have included a visit to the breathtaking Victoria Falls and several rounds of golf, with the side largely keeping a low profile under security at their hotel.

Despite the poor level of the opposition, Bond was surprised at his first 10-wicket haul in test cricket.

"I set myself high standards but you never think you're going to get a bag of wickets," he said.

"I never gave up hope [during the injury layoff]. There were some really tough times, more mental than physical, but you've got to work through them.

"All I wanted to do was be consistent and support the guys around me."

Captain Stephen Fleming said the team had learned not to take Bond's presence for granted.

"We've gone through some series and kept our mouth shut, knowing we were missing possibly one of the greatest bowlers to play for New Zealand.

"He's worked very hard and come back well."

The test series, where two matches were squeezed into five days, only served to boost New Zealand's averages and highlight how far off the pace Zimbabwe were.

Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum bludgeoned centuries in the first test, before Nathan Astle reached his 11th test ton in Bulawayo.

Fleming again fell short of three figures, but his 65 in Bulawayo made him the first New Zealand batsman to reach 6000 test runs.

Zimbabwe coach Phil Simmons has been the scapegoat for his team's sorry display - sacked and replaced by former Zimbabwe player Kevin Curran.

- NZPA