Bond aims for Ponting's wicket

Having dismissed Ricky Ponting in six of the seven one-day matches where they have faced each other, Shane Bond is looking forward to their next face-off in New Zealand's first match of the CB series at Hobart on Sunday.

Bond made his debut in the same tournament (then called the VB Series) in 2002, taking 21 wickets in nine matches at 16.38. He admitted Ponting had come up with a few ideas to counter his swing bowling and that he would need to vary his strategies if he wanted to come off on top.

"The plans I've put in place for him seem to be successful but I can't keep doing the same thing and just expect to get the same result," Bond told the Weekend Herald. "Hopefully I can continue what I'm doing but also introduce some new stuff and keep getting his wicket."

Bond said that it was no use countering the aggressive Australian line-up by restricting them to four runs an over. The key, he said, was to attack. But to get Ponting out, Bond said, the trick was to be patient. "He's a great player but he's also an aggressive player and if you hang in the right areas for long enough he'll play the big shot.

"His wicket means a huge amount to the Australians and his record speaks for itself. But in saying that, they've got seven quality batsmen and we've got to make sure that we take early wickets and keep making breakthroughs throughout the innings."

Bond's emphasis on speed has often drawn comparisons with Brett Lee, who is unlikely to play, but Bond admitted that he though he'd try he was always a few clicks behind Lee.

New Zealand last played an ODI against Australia at Chandigarh during the Champions Trophy in India last November. Australia won that encounter by 34 runs.