Shane Bond to return in Darwin club matches

New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond is to make his competitive comeback in a club match in the Australian Northern Territory city of Darwin on Saturday.

Bond, who made his international breakthrough earlier this year in the triangular series involving Australia and South Africa by capturing 21 wickets and the man-of-the-series award, has been out of cricket for two months with a stress fracture in his foot.

"I've been able to bowl extended spells in the nets for a couple of weeks now and the foot feels strong," said Bond on Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to testing it out in a game situation and I'm confident I'll come through okay."

Bond will be welcomed back by a threadbare Kiwi pace attack for their forthcoming tour of the West Indies.

The team is already missing all-rounder Chris Cairns (knee injury), recently retired Dion Nash and Shayne O'Connor (knee injury) while all-rounder Andre Adams returned early from the tour of Pakistan, before it was cancelled after a bomb exploded outside the team's hotel in Karachi, with a back injury.

However Nathan Astle, who also has a knee injury, may recover in time to make the trip.

The tour of the West Indies was put in jeopardy after the bombing because of the effect the trauma had on the players.

However New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said on Tuesday that while the players had not been spoken to formally, feedback from some suggested they were looking forward to the tour.

"We have left the players alone after their return from Karachi to let them relax with family and friends," Snedden said on Radio Sport.

"We shall be contacting them individually later this week to see where they stand."

Also read: Kiwis shaken and stirred as injury forces Bond out

Mail Cricket Editor