Shane Bond has set a target of returning to fitness for the BLACKCAPS’ Champions Trophy campaign and staying in the side for the World Cup in 2007.
A knee injury has forced him out of the tour of South Africa and meant he will also sit out the English county season, missing the chance to join Hamish Marshall at Gloucestershire.
But the pace bowler was optimistic of a full recovery ahead of an important season for the BLACKCAPS in 2006-07.
On arrival back in Christchurch, Bond said: “I’ve a month to put my feet up and then back into training. I’ve got five months to kill until October.
“Every time I get the chance to train in the off season I change the way I train cos I want to come back a better player. I’ll just do what I usually do. I’ll train hard, I’ll work had but once you’re in the middle you don’t hold back.
“This is just a bit of a dampener on what’s been a pretty good season for me. It’s just the nature of what I do. “
Bond felt the injury was part and parcel of a fast bowler’s lot.
“If you look at all our bowlers, they’ve all had some real injury troubles over the last few years and guys have spent time out,” he observed.
“But I think people just focus on mine a little bit more. We all get them and its just a matter of rehabilitating and getting on with it.
“That’s sport. It takes a lot of energy and a lot of effort to do what I do and it’s going to take its toll and you’re going to get niggles on the way.”
The 30-year-old confirmed his focus was now fully on a return later this year, confirming: “You look forward and the Champions Trophy is the next target.
“It is frustrating, but I’m philosophical with it. I know its only minor, but I’m disappointed because I’ve just got out on this tour and it was one I was looking forward to, and England as well.
“But you’re going to suffer these things as a bowler, and my main focus was always to play another World Cup.
“You look at the season ahead, you see the Champions Trophy , and then the World Cup and to be honest if I can get through that, then that’ll be really good.”
