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Have you seen a canon on the cricket ground ever or a human shotgun firing red balls from pavilion end? I guess that whatever answers I will get, will prove me crazy or stupid but there is a man whose bowling speed once terrified almost all the batsman in the world. He is none other than ‘Shane Bond’. Shane Edward Bond is considered to be as New Zealand best fast bowler since Richard Hadlee. He has represented New Zealand in all format of game including New Zealand domestic cricket as well. Shane Bond was born on 7 June 1975 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Surprisingly, his nick name is James Bond that his colleagues used to call him. Bond is a right arm fast bowler. He is famous for delivering balls at speed in excess of 145 km/hr constantly. Before becoming an international player, he was a police officer for the New Zealand police in Christchurch. His career starts with debut in Test cricket on 22 November 2001 against Australia. Bond was known for his pace. He was the first to break the 150 km/hr barrier in the 2001/02 season. In Tests, (if we consider fist 2000 balls) his strike rate is 38.9,ranking fourth in all time list and his average 22.39 preserves the place of second amongst current players. Bond usually bats quite far down the batting order, at number nine or later, but he is capable of slogging some quick runs towards the ends of an inning. In 2001-2002 VB series against Australia and South Africa, he was awarded player of the tournament for taking 21 wickets in nine games. His last Test was against Pakistan on 24 November 2009. Talking about ODI, he made his debut on 11 January 2002 against Australia. In ODI, he holds the record of tenth best strike rate (29.2) among the players who have bowled at least 1000 balls. Bond got his chance in international cricket early in the 2001/02 season after tremendous display with the ball against the touring Australian academy. Bond continued to bowl well, again leading the New Zealand bowling squad at the 2003 World Cup. His domestic cricket career is no less shining than Test or International career. He presented Canterbury in 1996, Warwickshire in 2002, Hampshire in 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010. He was 21 years old when he made his debut in domestic cricket; he played only 12 matches for Canterbury in first three seasons. He made a short appearance in English County Cricket in the 2002 season, representing Warwickshire in three County Championship game. While playing for County Championship matches for the club, he took 19 wickets at a bowling average of 19.21 with best figures of 7/66. Bond reappeared in Indian Cricket League during the Match/April 2008 version for Delhi Giants but he has to satisfy himself with only 2 wickets. In January 2010, he was selected to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in 3rd season of Indian Premier League. On 13 May 2010 he retired from all forms of the game.
Bond’s successful years were against Australia. On 26 January 2002, he bowled New Zealand to victory over Australia, getting 5/25. In Cricket World Cup, Bond achieved 6/23 against Australia again which was considered New Zealand’s best bowling performance in ODI’S at that time. Against India, he took out New Zealand from the clutches of defeat with a spell of 6/19, including wickets of Rahul Dravid,Sarauv Ganguly and Virendra Sehwag. In the Test Match, Bond took 5-69 against West Indies and went on to win the man of the match award on January 14, 2007. He took a hat trick in the last over against Australia in ODI becoming the second New Zealand player to take a hat trick. On 16 May 2007, he was named New Zealand cricketer of the year for the 2006/2007 season and the best bowler too. As of April 2013, Bond is the fastest New Zealand cricketer to take 100 wickets in ODI. He achieved this feat in 55 matches. Injuries and success remained as two sides of the coin in Bond’s career. Bond’s career was plagued with injuries, deeply distressed from his stress fractures of the back. He also suffered back problems, knee injuries and an abdominal pain. These problems, in addition to his late start in his fully professional cricket career, limited his appearance in both international and domestic cricket. As on 13 May 2010, he retired from all forms of the game. Later he was appointed as the bowling coach for New Zealand in October 2012.
His bowling speed terrorizes even today most of the batsman, though he is not on the field yet guiding the actions over the field to New Zealand bowlers
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