Book Description

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. Signed up with the unsanctioned ICL T20 tournament in 2007 and was controversially precluded from representing New Zealand for 18 months. However, he severed his ties with the ICL in 2009 and was signed welcomed back to the international fold. Made a sensational return to test cricket in 2009 with a match-winning performance against Pakistan in Dunedin. Retired from test cricket after that match and from all international cricket after the 2010 T20 World Cup in the West Indies.