Shane Bond retires from all forms of cricket by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

SE Bond

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DateLine: 14th May 2010

 

New Zealand premier fast bowler Shane Bond announced his retirement from all cricket on Friday, ending a once-promising career which was frustrated by injury. Bond made the announcement as New Zealand returned from the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, saying he did not want to compromise his high standards of performance.

 

The 35-year-old Bond battled injuries throughout his career, the most serious and lasting of which was a back injury in 2004 which required surgery to have his spine partially fused with titanium wire

 

Bond played only 18 Tests for New Zealand over nine years, taking 87 wickets at an average of 22.09. He also took 147 wickets in 80 one-day internationals at 20.88, including a best of 6-22 against Australia at the 2003 World Cup.

 

"I know the time is right for me to step down," he said. "I have given it everything when playing for the Black Caps.

 

"I will miss the camaraderie because it has been a privilege to play along such a great bunch of guys who are so committed to do their best for New Zealand."

 

When injury-free, Bond took a place, along with players such as Australia's Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan, as one of the world's fastest and most effective bowlers. New Zealand was more competitive when he played, winning 10 of the 18 Tests in which Bond appeared.

 

He reached 50 Test wickets quicker than any other New Zealander — in 12 matches — and maintained one of the best strike rates in the history of limited-overs cricket.

 

In 2008 Bond joined the rebel Indian Cricket League and became ineligible to play for New Zealand. He was able to return a year later when an amnesty was granted to former ICL players. Bond retired from Test cricket in 2009, but continued to play for New Zealand in limited-overs matches and played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.