Shane Bond back, and feeling good

Shane Bond, the TelstraClear Black Caps fast bowler of the last summer, is well down the road to recovery and on a fitness management programme aimed at having him back in action for New Zealand's tour of the West Indies late next month.

Bond, who has been out of action with a stress fracture in his foot since the finals of the tri-series in Australia with the home team and South Africa, has been able to run and bowl over the last two weeks and is looking forward to more work over the next few weeks.

There have been some slight alterations to his bowling style, nothing major, but changes aimed at lessening the chance of more injuries. He's changed his footwear and worked on other things to minimise the risks of injury.

Bond told CricInfo today that it had not been too hard to sit back and watch the England series instead of taking part.

Injuries and work commitments in past years had meant he was used to missing out and he just wants to be fighting fit by the time his comeback is complete.

"I can't wait to play again. I'm going to put in some really hard work for the next six weeks.

"I just want to hear my name called out when the selection is made.

"The guys all tell me the West Indies are a great place to tour and New Zealand teams don't tour there too often. And it is not the sort of place I am likely to be able to go any other time. I would love to go there."

While missing out on England had been a blow he said his injury might have been less inconvenient than many people would imagine.

"The really big cricket is over the next year. And I've been working on getting my body into condition for that. There's the West Indies tour, the Champions Cup and the World Cup," he said.

Bond has been working with New Zealand Cricket's player development manager Ashley Ross on technique and modifications and he said Ross felt he could get a couple of yards faster yet.

Bond wants to get his confidence and rhythm back before wondering about that.

"Bowling faster would be fine, but what I would like to be able to do is bowl as fast as I was before, but all day, and then backing up the next day," he said.

There was still an element of anxiety about bowling, whenever he put his foot down in the delivery stride but, he said, every ball he bowled since coming back had given him more confidence.