Bond ruled out of Tests with abdominal tear

Black Caps strike bowler Shane Bond has been ruled out of the Test series against Pakistan with an abdominal tear.

Bond arrived at the indoor nets at Westpac Stadium on Tuesday, not to bowl, but to outline the latest injury to plague his career.

Man-of-the-match in the first Test in Dunedin with a match haul of eight for 153 in his first Test for two years, the injury that forced him out of his previous Test tour in South Africa has resurfaced to leave the downcast 34-year-old coy on his playing future.

Scans confirmed the tear and although Bond could have played in the second Test starting at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Thursday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has taken a precautionary approach by sending him home for rehabilitation before a hopeful return against Bangladesh in February.

A replacement will be added to the squad -- possibly Tim Southee -- while Daryl Tuffey, who is already with the team, could be in line for his first test in five years, the New Zealand Press Association reports.

O'Brien cleared for Wellington Test

Meanwhile, Black Caps fast bowler Iain O'Brien has been cleared to play in the second Test against Pakistan.

According to the New Zealand Press Association, he had been in doubt after dislocating his middle finger during the first Test in Dunedin.

New Zealand Cricket said he saw a specialist in Wellington yesterday and x-rays confirmed there was no fracture.