Shane Bond may return as BlackCaps bowling coach

By Jamie Pierce

WELLINGTON (TheSportsNext) August 30, 2012: Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond on Thursday showed his interest in filling up the void created by Damien Wright in the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) saying he was ready to get associated with the board but not without knowing the job description before any commitment.

 

Talking to reporters here, Shane Bond, 37, who has also served the Police department, said that the NZC should hire him to coach Kiwi fast bowlers as he has got enough experience of international cricket to garner their skills.

Shane Bond is considered as one of the finest fast bowlers of the modern-era cricket and the current New Zealand bowlers rely on his advice for getting control and pace.

The NZC has got a great chance of getting services of a talented cricketer like Shane Bond and if the authorities can rope him in then it would help them negate the public ire following untoward dealing with former Kiwi great John Wright, Mark Greatbatch told TheSportsNext.com.

Bond said, "I am interested in the role, but I want to know more. There's not much else to say really, until I see a job description."

Craig McMillan, who is in India for commentary assignments, also put his “weight” behind the former teammate saying, "Shane's a few years removed from the team now and I think he'd do a great job. In terms of knowledge and ability to help the young fast-bowlers, I think he'd be a superb appointment."

Shane Bond has recently worked with the NZC in a similar role at a training camp alongside national assistant coach Bob Carter.

If we take a look at the current bowling talent in the BlackCaps side, there is nothing really to talk about as apart from Chris Martin and Kyle Mills nobody else has stepped up his game and while the young bowlers are coming through into the team, the New Zealand do need someone like Shane Bond to fast-track the talent into real bowling resource. Tim Southee has once again lost his cutting edge while Chris Martin is getting closer to retirement.

Sources told this correspondent that Shane Bond is a favorite to get the job because the head coach Mike Hesson believes in hiring services of a local bowling coach and he would have a huge say in the hiring process.