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So the world has come to an end. Shane Bond has retired, and the face of New Zealand test cricket will never be the same again. But hang on; as much of a world class bowler Bond was, a quick look back at the last decade shows that his impact on test cricket is best described euphemistically as sporadic. Will we actually notice? Given it’s Christmas, this seems a good time to analyse a myth.
in Australia 2001. Where it all started. 2 tests. 3/289. Only tests he played against Australia. v Bangladesh 2001 2 tests. 11/150. Much better. v England 2002 3 tests. Injured. in Pakistan 2002 1 test. Injured. in West Indies 2002 2 tests 12/206 Including 2 5 wicket bags. v India 2002. The famous Green Top series 2 tests 12/196 in Sri Lanka 2003 2 tests 5/194 in India 2003 2 tests V Pakistan 2003 2 tests V South Africa 3 tests Injured. in England 2004 3 tests Toured, as part of “the best NZ team ever assembled?, but injured. in Bangladesh 2004 2 tests In Australia 2004 2 tests V Australia 2005 3 tests V Sri Lanka 2005 2 tests Injured. in Zimbabwe 2005 2 tests 13 /120 including 6/51. Nice way to come back. v West Indies 2006 1st test 7/126 2nd test. Injured (pulled out an hour before the start) 3rd test 1/87. in South Africa 2006, 3 tests Injured v Sri Lanka 2006, 2 tests 10/258. Light workload in the 2nd test. in South Africa 2007 1st test. 5 /133 2nd test. Injured. v Bangladesh 2008, 2 tests V England 2008, 3 tests. In England 2008, 3 tests In Bangladesh 2008, 2 tests In Australia 2008, 2 tests V West Indies 2008, 2 tests Unavailable, playing ICL. v India 2009, 3 tests Unavailable; trying to get out of ICL contract. In Sri Lanka 2008, 2 tests Unavailable, building up for test cricket. v Pakistan 2009 1st test 8/153. 2nd test. Injured 3rd test. Injured. So that’s it then. Farewell Shane Bond from test cricket. Like stardust sprinkled loosely, quite a few nice shiny bits, but no real long-term illumination. It is easier not to miss someone when you are used to missing them If you want to find a player we’re really going to miss, try this bloke. Photo courtesy of Cricket Action Art
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