Shane Bond - Looking Back [Second Hand]

Shane Bond - Looking Back
Dylan Cleaver

A breath of fresh air when he was introduced to Test cricket on the Australian tour of 2001-02, Shane Bond gave New Zealand a rare fast-bowling option until his tragic defection to the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2008 - a defection forced upon him, many believe, by the self-serving intransigence of New Zealand's cricketing administrators. For a period of six years, Bond was one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. The quickest New Zealander to reach 50 one-day international wickets, including a national best of 6 for 22 against Australia in the 2003 World Cup, his potential was only limited by his susceptibility to injury, having suffered crippling stress-fractures in his feet and back. His fast, inswinging yorker commanded the respect of the best batsmen in the game - but only when he's fit. He took 13 wickets at 9.23 against Zimbabwe in 2005, including 10 for 99 in the second Test at Bulawayo - his first ten-wicket haul - and in the process became the quickest among all New Zealand bowlers to get to 50 Test wickets, achieving the mark in only his 12th match. His 5 for 23 in the first game of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in February 2007 augured well for Bond's second World Cup. He picked up 13 wickets in the tournament and finished as the most economical bowler.