Bond hopes for England return

Shane Bond is optimistic of returning to the New Zealand line-up for today’s ODI against England.

He missed yesterday’s defeat to Australia with a back problem, but he and team manager Lindsay Crocker believe he has recovered sufficiently: “He’s jumping out of his skin and was very keen to be considered, he’s ready to go,” Crocker said to the New Zealand Press Association. “He knows his body better than any fitness trainer and I’d expect him to play.”

The problem was initially feared to be a return of the stress fractures that have dogged him throughout his career, though this was quickly revealed not to be the case.

New Zealand take on England in Adelaide, and are currently without a win in the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series.