The best of Bond
A selection of Shane Bond's best performances in all formats of the game
Cricinfo staff
14-May-2010
He didn't play many Tests against Australia, but Shane Bond saved his best in ODIs for the No. 1 team • Tony Lewis/Getty Images
3 for 53 v Australia, Melbourne, 2001-02
After an inauspicious Test debut in Hobart, few could have predicted Bond would soon become arguably the bowler most feared by Australian batsmen. The first indications come in his ODI debut that same summer. Defending a modest 199 in the opening match of the VB Series, New Zealand have their work cut out. But Bond has Mark Waugh caught behind in the first over, and then removes Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan to set up an unlikely win and begin his happy rivalry with the world champions.
After an inauspicious Test debut in Hobart, few could have predicted Bond would soon become arguably the bowler most feared by Australian batsmen. The first indications come in his ODI debut that same summer. Defending a modest 199 in the opening match of the VB Series, New Zealand have their work cut out. But Bond has Mark Waugh caught behind in the first over, and then removes Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan to set up an unlikely win and begin his happy rivalry with the world champions.
6 for 23 v Australia, Port Elizabeth, 2003
Australia have a formidable record entering this World Cup Super Sixes game - seven matches at the tournament for seven wins. But Bond knows a thing or two about his opponents, with 16 wickets at 12.93 from his five previous outings against them. New Zealand decide to bowl and Bond sends the top order packing, before claiming three more victims in his second spell. He finishes with the best figures by a New Zealander in an ODI, but his team-mates crumble and they lose by 96 runs.
Australia have a formidable record entering this World Cup Super Sixes game - seven matches at the tournament for seven wins. But Bond knows a thing or two about his opponents, with 16 wickets at 12.93 from his five previous outings against them. New Zealand decide to bowl and Bond sends the top order packing, before claiming three more victims in his second spell. He finishes with the best figures by a New Zealander in an ODI, but his team-mates crumble and they lose by 96 runs.
6 for 51 and 4 for 48 v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2005-06
Nobody is quite sure what to expect from Bond in his first series for more than two years. Would he ever be the same after a major back surgery? He is hardly required in the first Test against Zimbabwe as the hosts capitulate twice, but in the second match he reignites his awesome firepower. Zimbabwe's top order have no idea and the middle order even less, and at one stage in the first innings Bond has 5 for 11. Match figures of 10 for 99 - he has never before taken 10 wickets in a first-class game - secure an innings victory.
Nobody is quite sure what to expect from Bond in his first series for more than two years. Would he ever be the same after a major back surgery? He is hardly required in the first Test against Zimbabwe as the hosts capitulate twice, but in the second match he reignites his awesome firepower. Zimbabwe's top order have no idea and the middle order even less, and at one stage in the first innings Bond has 5 for 11. Match figures of 10 for 99 - he has never before taken 10 wickets in a first-class game - secure an innings victory.
6 for 19 v India, Bulawayo, 2005-06
Less than a fortnight after his Test 10-for and at the same venue, Bond confirms he really is back. He betters his ODI best with 6 for 19 against India and his victims included the handy trio of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. His searching opening spell leaves India at 44 for 8, chasing 216. A superb rearguard action follows, and just when it looks like JP Yadav and Irfan Pathan might steal the game, Bond returns to break the partnership and ensure his blistering start is not wasted.
Less than a fortnight after his Test 10-for and at the same venue, Bond confirms he really is back. He betters his ODI best with 6 for 19 against India and his victims included the handy trio of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. His searching opening spell leaves India at 44 for 8, chasing 216. A superb rearguard action follows, and just when it looks like JP Yadav and Irfan Pathan might steal the game, Bond returns to break the partnership and ensure his blistering start is not wasted.
2 for 57 and 5 for 69 v West Indies, Auckland, 2005-06
With Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga's opening partnership still intact and 148 on the board, West Indies appear to be cruising towards a win in in the Auckland Test. It is the fourth day and they need 291 to win, but when Nathan Astle breaks the partnership Bond steps in. First he forces Ramnaresh Sarwan to retire-hurt with a brutal bouncer that crashes into his helmet. With the next ball Bond rattles Brian Lara's off stump. After a rest, Bond returns with three wickets in three overs, sealing the 27-run win with an off-cutter that bowls the No. 11 Jerome Taylor.
With Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga's opening partnership still intact and 148 on the board, West Indies appear to be cruising towards a win in in the Auckland Test. It is the fourth day and they need 291 to win, but when Nathan Astle breaks the partnership Bond steps in. First he forces Ramnaresh Sarwan to retire-hurt with a brutal bouncer that crashes into his helmet. With the next ball Bond rattles Brian Lara's off stump. After a rest, Bond returns with three wickets in three overs, sealing the 27-run win with an off-cutter that bowls the No. 11 Jerome Taylor.
5 for 107 and 3 for 43 v Pakistan, Dunedin, 2009-10
Coming back from a two-year exile thanks to his involvement in the ICL, Bond hardly holds back, bowling bouncers, yorkers, legcutters consistently at 150kph and thereabouts, setting up New Zealand's first Test win in more than a year. Finally back in New Zealand whites, hurling that red thing in anger on a flat pitch, Bond - with pure pace - rattles the Pakistan middle order during a seven-over spell of 3 for 25 in the first innings, a spell instrumental to their 97-run first-innings lead, despite debutant Umar Akmal's counterattacking century. New Zealand collapse in the second innings, and Pakistan need 56 with five wickets in hand when Bond gets Akmal out with his second return catch of the match, a wicket that starts a decisive collapse.
Coming back from a two-year exile thanks to his involvement in the ICL, Bond hardly holds back, bowling bouncers, yorkers, legcutters consistently at 150kph and thereabouts, setting up New Zealand's first Test win in more than a year. Finally back in New Zealand whites, hurling that red thing in anger on a flat pitch, Bond - with pure pace - rattles the Pakistan middle order during a seven-over spell of 3 for 25 in the first innings, a spell instrumental to their 97-run first-innings lead, despite debutant Umar Akmal's counterattacking century. New Zealand collapse in the second innings, and Pakistan need 56 with five wickets in hand when Bond gets Akmal out with his second return catch of the match, a wicket that starts a decisive collapse.