Shane Bond is keeping an open mind about suggestions he might sit out the only two test matches of the summer in an effort to remain fully fit for the World Cup.
The third-highest-ranked bowler in one-day cricket, Bond today left with his team for the Champions Trophy in India,
where he is expected to spearhead the attack after a seven-month absence caused by an ankle ailment.
It is the first of three major one-day international events that New Zealand are primed for this season, with the VB Series in Australia in February-March, and the World Cup in the Caribbean the following month.
The stakes are so high that there has been talk of Bond being rested for New Zealand's two tests against Sri Lanka in December; the first at Christchurch and the second at Wellington.
Bond told the Herald that New Zealand faced an ideal run-in to the World Cup because their schedule involved a lot of one-day cricket and very few tests, which he believed was much tougher on the body.
"Physically, one-day cricket's less demanding than test cricket," Bond said. "When you look at the Ashes coming up, that's going to be exceptionally tough for both teams, and you can expect they're going to beat each other up over an extended period.
"That will lead to injuries and unavailabilities at a key time of the programme. It could cost a team their chance to win the World Cup."
The comment inevitably led to questions about his own test intentions, given the fact he was now 31 years old and his spine was held together by a combination of bone grafts and titanium wire.
"I haven't thought much about that," he said. "At this stage I'm just looking forward to playing at this tournament in India and after that, who knows?
"But I guess the powers-that-be will probably have their own opinion on how they want their players used at that stage of the programme, so I'll just have to wait and see what happens - like everyone else."
It wasn't that long ago that Bond was making his debut at Hobart, turning in a performance that was sufficiently impressive to raise eyebrows not only in New Zealand but in the land of fast-bowling - Australia.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later he was showing the first signs of fragility, blowing a radiator during an intensely hot and humid Queensland evening, and ending up on an intravenous drip to aid his rehydration.
Later, Bond had similar problems in India before suffering back injuries that led to his premature return from Sri Lanka in 2003, from England in 2004 and, eventually, surgery.
The right-armer returned fully fit for last year's tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, but immediately ran into further problems during the home series, missing three one-dayers with an assortment of complaints, and the second test against the West Indies with an 11th-hour stomach bug.
His latest frustration came in South Africa this year, when he was invalided home with a knee complaint without playing a test.
Bond said recovering from injury had been difficult, but it had helped him to learn more about himself, about his limitations and strengths, and how to make the most of what he had.
"The whole process has taught me a lot about myself, as it's done with a lot of other players who've been through similar situations," he said.
"It teaches you to break your entire game down so you understand it more, and to prepare minutely for every outing. These days I get quite anal about the way I go about my preparation. At least then I know I've done all I can."
As for the Champions Trophy, he said New Zealand's task was simple but challenging: they needed to win two of their three pool matches against South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to qualify for the semifinals.
"We know we're pretty well matched against South Africa, we've just had a good summer against Sri Lanka and the West Indies, and then there's Pakistan - who are always an unknown quantity. You never really know what you're going to get.
"All we know is that we're capable of going through, it's just a matter of playing good cricket when we get there."
Shane Bond
Age: 31
ODIs: 45
Wickets: 87
Best: 6/19 v India, Bulawayo, 2005
5-wicket bags: 3
ODI Bowler Rankings: 3rd
2006 Champions Trophy, India
Qualifying Pool: Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe
POOL A: Australia, England, India and qualifier
POOL B: New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and qualifier
Top two qualifiers added to the first-round draw
Top two placed sides in each pool qualify for semis
Shane Bond is expected to spearhead the Black Caps' attack at the Champions Trophy. Jeff Brass / Getty Images
Shane Bond is keeping an open mind about suggestions he might sit out the only two test matches of the summer in an effort to remain fully fit for the World Cup.
The third-highest-ranked bowler in one-day cricket, Bond today left with his team for the Champions Trophy in India,
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