New Zealand is getting used to life without its pace spearhead Shane Bond as it remains unsure of the ace fast bowler turning out for Friday's Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka.
Bond continues to feel stiff despite an extended rest period and the team management is reluctant to rush him back into competitive cricket until the pacer's complete recovery.
New Zealand, which defeated South Africa by 87 runs in its first Group B match, will be seeking to clinch a semifinal spot with another victory, but is wary of Sri Lanka's aggressive batsmen seeking to bounce back from a four-wicket loss to Pakistan.
Strike bowler Bond is rated among the fastest bowlers in contemporary cricket, but a recurring back problem has curtailed his international career for several years. His outings have been few after suffering a stress fracture three years ago.
Bond, 31, was missing from the New Zealand lineup Monday, complaining of stiffness after a practice match over the weekend. Scans done on Bond's back in Mumbai have cleared him of any damage in his spine, but he continues to feel stiff.
New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker said Bond was still restricted in his bowling movements, but there's ``no structural damage.''
``There's no bone or disc damage, it seems Shane's problem is being caused by some scar tissue from operations he's had,'' said Crocker, even as the team management considered delaying Bond's inclusion in the lineup by another match.
Crocker said New Zealand was in no rush to hand the new ball to Bond.
``We're looking at Shane's long-term career, and these pitches aren't rally conducive to outright pace bowling,'' he said.
``That said, Shane sure does add a great deal to the New Zealand attack.''
New Zealand's injury concerns include all-rounder Scott Styris, who too has a back problem, and bowler Mark Gillespie is down with fever.
Like Bond, the fitness of Styris too is under scrutiny. He must pass a fitness test before getting to play a match in the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Gillespie's sickness meant New Zealand was down to 11 fit players, but he is now recovering from the fever that made the team officials isolate him from the team to avoid the spread of any virus.
Sri Lanka is slightly tense returning to the Brabourne Stadium, where it posted a runaway nine-wicket win Saturday against defending champion West Indies in the final match of the qualifying competition. The loss to Pakistan has put it in a tight spot, but captain Mahela Jayawardene says his boys will bounce back.
``We seek to learn from every outing, and defeat often teaches you more,'' said Jayawardene, insisting that Sri Lanka must not be assessed from one match.
``It's going to be tough game, but Sri Lanka can match the best opposition.''
© The Canadian Press, 2007
