The history of cricket is decorated with legendary fast bowlers. In the 1970s and 80s, the West Indies' speedsters dominated, instilling fear in the hearts of batsmen. Australia boasted dangerous pacemen like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, challenging any batsman who faced them. As the 21st century dawned, the cricket world was introduced to new maestros like Brett Lee of Australia and Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan, who effortlessly broke the 150 KMPH barrier.
Injuries Derailed This Bowler's Career
Shoaib Akhtar set a record in the 2003 World Cup with a blistering 100.23 mph (161.3 KMPH) delivery against England. Similarly, Shane Bond of New Zealand captured headlines with his electrifying pace, earning him a spot next to New Zealand's finest, Richard Hadlee. Marking his 50th birthday on June 7, Bond remains a celebrated figure.
Bond missed more matches than he played in his cricket career primarily due to recurring injuries. A severe back injury in 2003 sidelined him for nearly two years, requiring surgery that involved titanium wire in his spine. Despite persistent knee, leg, and other physical woes, his passion for the game never waned.
Bond Never Compromised on Speed
Shane Bond was a right-arm fast bowler who could have extended his career by slowing down, yet he refused to compromise on speed. Renowned for his late swing and challenging yorkers, he troubled batsmen worldwide—including knocking out cricket stalwart Ricky Ponting in his first six ODIs against him.
Source: aajtak
Shane Bond represented New Zealand in 18 Tests, 82 ODIs, and 20 T20s. Bond debuted in Test cricket in November 2001, falling short of reaching 100 wickets due to injuries but secured 87 wickets at an impressive average of 22.09, with five-wicket hauls on five occasions. In ODIs, he amassed 147 wickets at 20.88, with four five-wicket hauls. In T20Is, he took 25 wickets at an average of 21.72. Across all formats, Bond also accumulated 481 runs.
Setting the Pitch Alight Against Australia
Bond's performances were particularly stellar against Australia, bagging 44 wickets from 17 ODIs with a remarkable average of 15.79. His career highlights include taking six wickets in the 2003 World Cup and a hat-trick in Hobart in January 2007. He played a crucial role in leading New Zealand to the World Cup semifinals in 2007. However, his decision to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008 led to New Zealand Cricket terminating his central contract.
In 2009, Bond made an international return, closing his Test career against Pakistan in Dunedin with a match-winning performance of 8/22. He retired from all formats in 2010. Transitioning to coaching, Bond took the helm of New Zealand's bowling coach by 2012, steering the team into the 2015 World Cup. In the IPL, Bond's expertise continues to benefit players as a bowling coach for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and formerly for Mumbai Indians (MI).
