Shane Bond retires from test cricket

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: December 23, 2009

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New Zealand: New Zealand’s tear away fast bowler Shane Bond has announced his retirement from test cricket due to his recurring battle with injuries. He will, however, continue to play in one-day internationals and Twenty20s.

Bond, 34, who came to limelight after some memorable performances in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, had made a comeback to international cricket earlier this year after breaking his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League. After giving a match winning performance in the first test against Pakistan at Dunedin last month, he was forced to miss the remaining two games of the series after tearing an abdominal muscle. Another injury setback, in what has been a career blighted by injuries on his back, feet and soft tissue issues, left him highly disappointed and disheartened, eventually prompting him to reassess his future as a test player.

“The hardest thing is that I’ve always considered myself a Test bowler – and it was such a great feeling to be back in the team last month and playing Test match cricket with the Blackcaps,” Bond said. “I’ve worked really hard to get back to Test match fitness – it’s what I’ve been working towards for the past two years – and I feel I gave as much as I could. But looking back, so many of my injuries have come during Test cricket. Unfortunately, my body just won’t let me continue to play at that level, given the workload and demands of Test cricket.”

“I don’t want to end on an injury and I am absolutely committed to playing for the Blackcaps. This way I hope I’ve got a better chance of continuing to play. I hope I’ll be able to continue to contribute to the team and to New Zealand cricket fans for a while yet. It’s been a tough call, because Test cricket remains the ultimate form of the game – but I’m comfortable I’ve made the right choice,” he added.

The fast bowler said that he is looking for a comeback in the ODI series against Australia in February, while adding that he would appear in a few club matches in January before playing for Canterbury in one-day games.

Justin Vaughan, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket, sympathised with Bond’s decision.

“Shane really showed his never-say-die attitude in his comeback this season, especially in the Test Match against Pakistan – and I know how tough this decision has been for him,” Vaughan said. “Of course we’re disappointed that he won’t be part of the Test line-up, but New Zealand Cricket supports his decision to focus on limited-overs cricket and hopes that this decision will prolong his international career. He remains one of the best fast bowlers in the international game and we’re delighted that he’s doing all he can to keep playing.”

Considered one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket since he made his debut in 2001, Bond has the distinction of being the quickest New Zealander to reach 50 wickets in Tests and ODIs. However, since his debut in 2001, he has managed to play only 18 Tests, taking 87 wickets, and 77 ODIs.

Stress-fractures to his feet and back forced him out of the game on innumerable occasions. After making a successful comeback against Zimbabwe in 2005, a knee injury ruled him out for nine months. He joined the ICL in 2007, for which he was banned from international cricket and got his New Zealand Cricket contract terminated. He made a comeback to the national squad earlier this year when the boards offered amnesty to its players if they quit the rebel T20 league.

He ends his Test career regarded by many as New Zealand’s best fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee. British commentator, Tony Grieg, once famously compared him to the legendary movie character James Bond which became a norm with most commentators addressing him as, “the name is Bond, Shane Bond!”

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