Black Caps paceman returning to international fold
New Zealand paceman Shane Bond feels like he is starting right back at the beginning of his career again as he makes a long-awaited comeback to international cricket.
Bond has been out of the international arena for two years due to his contract with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League.
However, after severing his ties with the rebel Twenty20 competition 34-year-old Bond will now play for the Black Caps again as they face Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 International on Wednesday.
"It's been a long time coming and it's something I never thought would happen again," Bond said. "It feels like I am starting all over again."
Bond, who last played for New Zealand in November 2007, hoped he could meet the expectations from team-mates and fans alike on his highly-anticipated return.
Standards
"I think I set myself pretty high standards and it is up to me to meet those," he said. "I always strive to be the best bowler in the world, nothing's changed there."
Bond's aggressive pace bowling has brought him 79 wickets in 17 Tests, 125 from 67 ODIs and 12 in nine Twenty20 matches.
He was not picked for the preceding Test series which Sri Lanka swept 2-0, and warmed up instead by playing for New Zealand's A team in India last month.
Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori warned against expecting the premier fast bowler to deliver immediate results.
"I can see the pressure building from a distance," said Vettori.
"People are viewing him as a sort of saviour to some recent woes, but I think we need to let Shane relax and build his way back into the team."
