PORT ELIZABETH - Shane Bond knows he won't top Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar for speed but he won't be far off them in this cricket World Cup.
The New Zealand pace spearhead Bond faces the Australian and Pakistan speedsters on a level playing field for the first time- measured for once by the same speed gun which varies wildly from country to country.
Akhtar has the fastest recorded delivery, a highly dubious 161kmh to New Zealand's Craig McMillan in Lahore last April, while Lee isn't far behind with a top reading in the 155-158kmh range on the Australian radar.
Bond's fastest is 153kmh in the West Indies in July but he was continually frustrated by the New Zealand police radar on Sky television, which is claimed to be the most accurate but only gave Bond a top reading in the high 140s.
Bond started this tournament sharply on an unresponsive pitch on Monday with two for 44 off 10 overs and a top speed of 146kmh against Sri Lanka in a losing cause in Bloemfontein.
But he felt he was much faster during the India one-day series last month.
"It's a faster gun over here. I was 146kmh the other day, and I got up to 146kmh in New Zealand against India and felt I bowled a yard quicker at home, especially in the last two one-dayers," Bond said.
"If I get it right it'd be interesting to see what I get up to. I know I'm up there.
"I definitely didn't bowl as quick as I can. You know the days when you bowl quick, the last two in New Zealand, although I didn't get any wickets, were the quickest I bowled all summer."
Bond admitted he didn't take a huge amount of notice of the speedball radar but he couldn't help comparing himself to Lee and Akhtar.
He wasn't planning to hold back tomorrow night (NZT) against West Indies in Port Elizabeth.
"Most days I'll bowl 140-plus, but some days something clicks and you get it right up to that top level."
Bond said he was reaching peak fitness and rhythm after being hampered by an inner ear infection and a side strain during the 5-2 series win over India at home.
