This guy is seriously the greatest fast bowler to hardly ever play the game. If he was a horse he'd have been put down by now. Unbelievable - he's just not cut out to bowl. I see another Bruce Reid happening before my eyes.
On a more serious note, it's a bit of a tragedy. Cricket needs guys like this. There are so few out and out quicks who can actually take wickets these days.
Quote:
Cricket: Fears Bond's career over after another back strain
Wednesday January 17, 2007
By Richard Boock
New Zealand's one-day prospects have slumped to a new low after news that Shane Bond has suffered a potentially career-ending back injury.
Skipper Stephen Fleming was last night attempting to play down the setback by claiming the injury wasn't necessarily another stress-fracture, and that his fast-bowler would be re-assessed this morning before a decision about an MRI scan was made.
But given Bond's history of back injury, including a major operation that forced him to miss the 2004-05 summer, there are genuine fears that last night's problem could spell the end of his tri-series and World Cup dream, if not his career.
The 31-year-old right-armer, backing up after a game against Australia on Sunday, bowled five overs in his first spell yesterday but had to leave the field after returning for just three more - leaving part-timer Craig McMillan to address the balance.
"At the moment we're hoping it's muscular," Fleming said of his spearhead. "It's been around for a while and it seems to get stiff when we play two games in three days.
"But fingers crossed. We're always worried about him. He's such an integral part of our side. We're always a better team when he's playing, and whenever he's not right it sends a shiver through the camp."
Bond's career has already been ravaged by injury. He was forced out of the tour of Sri Lanka in 2003 with back problems; he was invalided out of the 2004 tour of England, and he was forced to return from last year's tour of South Africa with a knee complaint.
But yesterday's withdrawal was the first involving his back since his operation near the end of 2004, when he had two vertebrae fused together and reinforced with titanium wire and bone grafts taken from his hip.
In the event he may have to be replaced, New Zealand coach John Bracewell is likely to consider the credentials of the remaining pace bowlers in his World Cup squad of 30, in which case Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin should be the front-runners.
New Zealand play their next tri-series match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/...ectid=10419461
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I feel sorry for whoever's on the same insurance plan that he's on.
17th January 2007, 00:17
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