 | I have had quite a few injuries but haven't really smashed my body to pieces |
New Zealand's Shane Bond will not sacrifice speed for the sake of prolonging his international career. Bond has only played 14 Tests and 45 one-dayers since his debut five years ago because of a series of injuries.
But the 31-year-old is set to make his first appearance since March when New Zealand meet South Africa at the ICC Champions Trophy next Monday.
"My job is to go out and bowl fast as long as I am playing international cricket," said Bond.
"I realise my career might not be very long and that I might play for just two or three years more, but that is fine with me."
Bond is able to bowl at over 90 mph, with only Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee ahead of him in terms of sheer speed.
But he is aware of the need to mix up his pace for the Champions Trophy in India, where wickets are traditionally slow.
"I am planning to keep things simple and bowl consistently. If the batsmen try to come after me, there is a better chance for me to pick up wickets.
"In Indian conditions, you need to bowl slower balls a lot more," said Bond.
"With experience, I have got smarter in the sense that I don't bowl all my deliveries at the same pace, but decide which ones to bowl at my fastest."
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