Shane Bond to play county cricket

New Zealand Cricket has given its consent for contracted TelstraClear Black Caps fast bowler Shane Bond to play four games for English county side, Warwickshire during August.

Between August 5-25 Bond will play three four-day matches in the County Championship as well as a one one-day match in the Norwich Union League.

Bond will take the place of Shaun Pollock in the Warwickshire line-up, whilst the South African captain fulfils One-Day International duties at a tournament in Morocco involving South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand Cricket operations manager John Reid said: "New Zealand Cricket has agreed to allow Shane the opportunity to play some cricket for Warwickshire because we believe it will provide him with excellent preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September."

The TelstraClear Black Caps first match in the ICC Champions Trophy is against Australia in Colombo on September 15.

"This is a knock-out tournament. We must win that first match if we are to progress so we want Shane to be in the best possible condition for that match," said Reid. "After a four month injury lay-off he needs to maintain the momentum he has developed during the current tour of the West Indies.

Bond's manager, Geoff Allott, supported New Zealand Cricket's decision: "As the West Indies series has progressed Shane has started to find his rhythm again and, in terms of his preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, he will benefit far more from match-play for Warwickshire than he would back in New Zealand where his preparation would be restricted to indoor net bowling."

Bond will return to New Zealand after the West Indies tour and the New Zealand Cricket medical team will be conducting a thorough assessment of his physical fitness, before confirming his availability for Warwickshire.

"Shane's reintroduction to cricket after his foot injury has been well managed and we want to ensure this continues," said Reid.

Under his contract with Warwickshire, Bond will have a managed workload where he will be restricted to bowling a maximum of 20 overs per day.