Bond out of Centurion Test

New Zealand fast bowler, Shane Bond, has been ruled out of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand at SuperSport Park.

Bond has been forced out with an inflamed tendon in his right knee. The injury prone Bond, who has played just 14 tests since his debut in 2001, has been replaced by Kyle Mills.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said “Shane drives himself very hard and he’s worked hard to get back to this level. He’s just not consistently being able to get across the line and be a regular starter.

“He was pretty close to playing but our attention now turns to the second test to see if we can get any improvement. It’s obviously not healing as quickly as we would have liked.”

In contrast, South Africa’s main injury worry before the game, Graeme Smith, has proclaimed himself fit. However, fast bowler Andre Nel is in doubt.

South Africa (squad)
Graeme Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn

New Zealand
Hamish Marshall, Peter Fulton, Stephen Fleming (capt), Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin. (12th man to be named)