New Delhi, Aug 11: New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who is recovering from a back stress fracture, may not be fit in time for the team's upcoming tour of India. Bond is still a week away from returning to bowling in the nets after suffering the injury in Sri Lanka in May and New Zealand cricket's medical coordinator Warren Frost today made it clear that the bowler would not be rushed back to action.
"He is making very good progress but it's a long season and we won't be pushing things," Frost told the reporters.
"He is pain-free which is a very good sign." Although it is almost two months to go before New Zealand play the first test at Ahmedabad on October 8, the chances of the kiwi strike bowler playing the test series are remote since he would need "at least six weeks" of build-up in the nets, starting with light four-over spells next week, before he is even considered for a match.
The one-day triangular series, with Australia as the third team and starting on October 23, would be a more realistic target for Bond, who became the fastest New Zealander to reach 50 one-day international wickets when he raced to the mark in 27 matches.
However, Frost was positive about another injured player in the side, batsman Nathan Astle, being fit in time to play the test matches.
Bureau Report