Au revoir to Shane Bond

It’s sad to see that Shane Bond has announced his retirement from cricket following New Zealand’s exit from the World T20. It seems he has finally bowed to the inevitable after a series of injuries, which has severely curtailed what would otherwise have been a very successful career.

 

In announcing his retirement, Bond said “I know the time is right for me to step down. 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. Playing with pride for the Black Caps over the years has meant so much to me.”  

 

 

Bond was undoubtedly the Black Caps best bowler since Richard Hadlee, so he will be missed by the Beige Brigade and Super Dan, as well as lovers of express pace bowlers the world over.

 

His record was remarkable in many ways and he departs with 87 wickets at 22.09 in 18 Tests, 147 at 20.88 in 82 ODIs, and 25 at 21.72 in 20 Twenty20 internationals. Those stats are as good as the best fast bowlers of the last twenty years like Glenn McGrath, Malcolm Marshall, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.

 

If he had been blessed with an injury free body, then he could have retired in the same bracket as these legendary bowlers. Instead, he will have to be content with being regarded as New Zealand's second best fast bowler ever and with many Black Cap supporters bemoaning what might have been.