Bond turns down Worcestershire

Worcestershire have failed to sign Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, after several weeks of negotiations. Bond, who retired from international cricket last month but who has signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League, has attracted plenty of interest from other counties, principally Hampshire.

"There are discussions taking place [between Hampshire and Bond] at the moment and we hope to be able to make an announcement soon," a spokesman from Hampshire told Cricinfo.

"I can't go into too much detail about what happened because a lot of negotiations when trying to sign players are a personal and private thing," Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket, said. "But I am disappointed we didn't sign Shane. We did go after him. We do know what a wonderful fast bowler he is and I am sure it would have been well worth it for Worcestershire had we secured someone of his abilities."

Bond would have been available for the majority of the 2008 season and Rhodes admitted the county may now have to bring in more than one player to fill the overseas berth.

"There could now be more than one overseas player. I have been putting in a few phone calls during the winter and there are a few people in the pipeline still. To break them down into little parts of the season could be a way of going about it.

"Because there is so much international cricket, it is very difficult to get one person for the entire season."