Rejuvenated Bond has license to thrill in Sri Lanka

Shane Bond is ready to test his body in the limited-overs series with Sri Lanka and India after starring for New Zealand in the Twenty20 series against the hosts.

Shane Bond is ready to test his body in the limited-overs series with Sri Lanka and India after starring for New Zealand in the Twenty20 series win over Sri Lanka. The fast bowler, ravaged by injury throughout his career, has been off the international scene since 2007 when he signed up with the rebel Indian Cricket League. But he has been welcomed back with open arms by New Zealand since cutting ties with the unsanctioned Twenty20 league.

The 34-year-old, who has 125 ODI wickets, is two games into his comeback and he showed how important he is to the Black Caps attack by taking three for 18 off his four overs in the 22-run victory against Sri Lanka on Friday. Bond will now spearhead the bowling unit in the one-day series, starting against Sri Lanka in Columbo on Tuesday. "It's going to be tough," he said. "You're pretty tired after 20 overs in this heat so a day-nighter and 50 overs you might be able out in the sun in the afternoon so it's going to be tough work.

"The boys have just got to rest up and just get ready and play the sort of cricket they've been playing in these Twenty20s and we'll have a pretty good chance." Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian batting master, wants 50-over matches to be split into two innings of 25 overs per side to spice up the one-day game and save it from being swamped by the new Twenty20 format. Tendulkar said such a change would also reduce the luck factor for any team in rain-curtailed matches.

* With agencies