Bond back after illness

Shane Bond returned to action today for Canterbury after being sidelined for two weeks by a mysterious virus. The fast bowler, who as well as spending a lot of that time in bed with the illness has been kept busy with the duties associated with a recently born second child, completed a tidy ten over spell in his comeback, taking one wicket and conceding 38 runs.

In the same match, Black Caps teammate Lou Vincent played well for Auckland in scoring 88, and Scott Styris, Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns all got to the forties, with Astle posting 53. Craig McMillan gave a reminder to the selectors of his ability with a matchwinning 75 as Canterbury strolled to an easy win.

The West Indies shortly arrive in New Zealand, the tour beginning with a Twenty20 international at Eden Park on February 16, followed by five one-day internationals and three tests.