Bond lashes out at New Zealand Cricket
One of the most potent strike bowlers in modern cricket, New Zealand’s only genuine quick Shane Bond has come down hard at the cricket administrators in his country in what is nothing less than a stunning outburst.
Bond, who retired recently from all formats of the game, made the revelations in his book titled “Looking Back”.
"What I'll never understand is why it had to be one or the other, ICL or playing for New Zealand, especially when I received a cast-iron assurance that I could do both, and my contract with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 Cricket certainly allowed for it,
In the end I became a victim of politics. As distasteful as that might be, I could learn to live with that, but what I can't live with is the suggestion that in the end I didn't want to play for my country".
Known for his searing pace and booming in swingers the right-arm bowler signed with what was touted as the rebel league the Indian Cricket League in January 2008.
Subsequently, the fast bowler was not considered for the national team for nearly two years as the ICC decided to impose sanctions on all players, who were part of the league that petered out after the first two seasons.
Eventually the cash strapped owners of the league gave in to the financial burden that the tournament was under and called off the series.
Bond made a roaring comeback to his national team in June 2009 when NZC allowed players to return to the national fold, he also had to terminate his ICL contract before donning the Kiwi kit.
The pace bowler appeared for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
He signed a contract with Kolkata Knight Riders, who bid US$750,000 for him at the auction.
However, Bond has no qualms about making an appearance in the IPL, he claims that the contract gave him and his family the financial security that an international sportsman seeks.
"One thing I'll never regret is signing to play in the Indian Cricket League. Not at all. Although I had been on a good contract by New Zealand standards, I hadn't got rich out of the game. I'd done all right, obviously, but I simply hadn't
played long enough to accumulate the sort of income that would provide long-term security for my family once my career ended".
Bond also revealed in his book that he had a serious altercation with the NZC chief Justin Vaughan, the former international cricketer, after he told him that his contract with the board would be terminated due to his links with the ICL.
Bond added that he was extremely agitated after he learnt of the development and went up to Vaughan and told him straight up that he was succumbing to pressure exerted by the BCCI and ICC.
The fast bowler sheds more light on the incident in the book. He claims that he swore at Vaughan for the first time as failed to keep his emotions in check.
The pace man played 18 Test matches for his country, capturing 82 wickets at a measly average of 22 runs per wicket. In 82 ODIs he took an astonishing 147 wickets at less than 21 runs per wicket.
He was also impressive in the shortest format of the game capturing 25 wickets at an average of 21.7 runs per wicket from 20 T20 international appearances.
Bond is expected to feature in the next year’s edition of the IPL he would be running in for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Knight-c71599 Riders with an aim of scaring the best batsmen in the World with his pace, lateral movement and subtle variations.
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