Shane Bond ruled out of Pakistan series

Shane Bond, New Zealand's fast bowler, will not be available for the home series against Pakistan. New Zealand Cricket announced today that while Bond has not suffered a new stress fracture he still needs more time to recover from his earlier injury.

New Zealand Cricket's medical co-ordinator Warren Frost said a CT scan had shown there was not a new fracture or a refracture of the old injury. "However, it has shown that there is increase sclerosis [bony activity] and stress where the bone is reforming from the stress fracture he sustained in May.

"Shane is still experiencing pain in that area and those two factors tell us he needs more rehabilitation and rest," said Frost. "Shane will be monitored weekly but injuries in this area are slow healing and I would not expect him to be available for any part of the Pakistan series."

Frost said it was difficult to put an exact time-frame on Bond's return to cricket but that it could be several months. That could also keep him out of the South African series later in the summer, and could mean that New Zealand's tour of England could be targeted for his return.

Frost added that Nathan Astle was working on strengthening his knees and had moved from a rehabilitation phase to a training phase and would be starting to hit balls again soon. As such a crucial member of the New Zealand team, the medical panel, Frost said, "will make sure he is ready to be there, and to stay there."

There was some arthritis in Astle's knee and it would never be quite right again, Frost said, but it was a case of being careful in the management of his workloads. It was unlikely that Astle would be ready for the Pakistan series.

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain who missed New Zealand's tour to Pakistan, would be looking to play in Wellington's State Championship game against Canterbury starting in Wellington on Friday. It would be necessary to see how he responded to the activity of playing before he was considered for the Test team.