Cricket: Bond's crook guts talk of town

It's the most talked about immune system in New Zealand cricket and it seems destined to dominate the build-up to the third test.

Fast bowler Shane Bond was yesterday named in an unchanged 13-man New Zealand squad to play the West Indies in Napier, but his participation is still in doubt as he recovers from yet another stomach virus.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell said that despite his inclusion, Bond's participation was not confirmed after he had spent the last five days recuperating from a virus that forced him out of the second test.

Bracewell said the main concern was over Bond's energy levels after the illness sidelined him with vomiting and diarrhoea.

In January Bond spent time recovering from another virus that saw him shed 6kg.

Bracewell said Bond bowled in the nets in Christchurch yesterday.

"I'd be second guessing today where he's at," Bracewell said. He is expected to do more work in the nets today in Napier.

Bond's strike rate of 63 wickets at 20.49 ranks him as one of the best bowlers in the game.

His match-winning prowess was demonstrated in the first test when he took a five-wicket bag, propelling New Zealand to victory.

Cover has been provided for Bond in the form of the three seamers James Franklin, Chris Martin and Kyle Mills who hobbled the West Indies at the Basin Reserve.

Bracewell conceded that Bond's propensity to be struck down with illness was a concern for all involved.

"He's been tested but I'm not the doctor ... but the bottom line is that it's about his make-up.

"Some guys just get to the point that they're so exceptionally fit that they catch the flu."

Meanwhile, Bracewell has kept faith with opener Hamish Marshall.

Marshall's unbeaten 23 in the successful pursuit of 36 in the second test at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Monday saved him, with Bracewell intimating Marshall would have been dropped had he failed again.

Marshall's retention in the New Zealand one-day squad, and then selection as opener in the test series has been a contentious point all season given his paucity of runs over the last seven months.

He posted 11 and 1 in the first test, followed by 3 in the first innings of the second test, but his little cameo was enough for Bracewell to stick with him - for now.

"I think undoubtedly yes," Bracewell replied, asked if another cheap dismissal on Monday would have jeopardised Marshall's selection.

But Bracewell indicated he and his fellow selectors were getting jittery about a rookie opening combination that has been New Zealand's Achilles heel.

With the three-test tour to South Africa starting next month, Bracewell agreed that Marshall needed a hefty score he if wanted to face the Proteas in what would be an extremely testing examination.

- NZPA