Bond targets West Indies return

CLEAR Black Caps fast bowler Shane Bond is using the latest medical technology available to New Zealand Cricket to aid in the healing of the stress fracture to his right foot.

The Exogen Bone Healing System, a product distributed by medical device company Smith and Nephew, is going to be a very useful asset to the New Zealand Cricket medical team according to New Zealand Cricket Medical Coordinater Warren Frost.

"Exogen uses pulsed low intensity ultrasound to accelerate the healing of fractures and tests have shown it can decrease recovery time by up to 40 percent," said Frost.

"Cricket players, particularly bowlers, are prone to stress fractures because of the continual pressure they apply to certain bones.

"We're delighted to have the opportunity to use this new technology which will help us to reduce the time players spend away from the game with this type of injury," he said.

The Exogen Bone Healing System can be self-administered, which means players do not have to make daily trips to the medical clinic.

Bond, who incurred the injury during the VB Series in Australia, has been using Exogen for the past fortnight and believes he can already feel its positive effects.

"My aim is to be ready for the tour to the West Indies in June.

"Indications from recent scans show the bone is knitting back together nicely, which is encouraging because after seeing the boys in the ODI series against England I'm extra keen to get back out there," he said.