Welcome back, Bondy

When visible to the media and fans, Shane Bond has worn the same expression on his face ever since he landed in Colombo from Chennai. It’s been virtually blank, not a trace of excitement or anticipation or nervousness of an international comeback. What thoughts have rattled around his head since he quit the ICL, was handed a New Zealand Cricket contract, was named back in the A and one-day teams, what he felt when he picked up a niggle in India after one over, what the emotions were when he joined up with New Zealand here in Sri Lanka, only Bond knows. And he's hardly shown it.

But tonight I thought I saw him smile.

Bond’s final net session the night before his first international appearance since November 2007 gave little indication to what may be going on inside his head. Bond didn’t speak much as New Zealand began their training under lights at the Premadasa, warming up by himself next to the green railing that runs around the ground. He then joined Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel and Daryl Tuffey for leg stretches and conditioning exercises, which included hopping on one leg and working with a fitness ball. A few words were spoken with Vettori and Tuffey, that’s it. The drill went on for about 15 minutes. No real emotion on Bond’s face.

After a couple swigs of water, Bond joined a few others for fielding and catching practice. After a good 25 minutes of hard work, in which he judged and took some skiers, once even tumbling to the ground, Bond again had some water and then slowly made his way to the nets.

He stood with Tuffey and Jacob Oram watching the McCullum brothers, Jesse Ryder and Kyle Mills bat. Then the three men were summoned to the last net on the left, where Ross Taylor was batting. The local net bowlers stepped back as Bond marked out his run-up. “Shane Bond, Shane Bond!” cried a few young boys near the boundary rope. There was no reaction.

Bond took a ball and ran in after Tuffey. The first delivery was a full toss which Taylor worked to the on side. No reaction from Bond. He picked up the ball and slowly walked back to his mark. The next delivery was back of a length and Taylor hammered it off the back foot. Again Bond picked up the ball, shaking his head slightly. The next ball was fuller and Taylor blasted a full-blooded ball past the stump marker. This time Bond nodded, just a slight bobble of the head.

The fourth ball was short and Taylor thrashed a cut. The fifth was on its target, pitching on a good length. Taylor inched forward on the press and then had to go back to adjust and defend, the ball just scooting off the side of the bat. “Good ball, Bondy” said Oram.

As he turned back towards Oram, Bond half smiled. It wasn't a curve to set everything right, but it was a noticeable smile. He'd found a rhythm during his most significant practice session in two years.

Daniel Vettori, when questioned about the importance of Bond’s return, said he just didn’t want undue pressure put on his strike bowler. “He’s been a while out of international cricket and he’ll want to find his way back in and not have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. We’ll let him ease back into it and let him get the results everyone has been accustomed to. On his days he’s one of the best bowlers in the world.”

Kumar Sangakkara was not surprised to see Bond back. “It’s always nice to have such a great player back. All sides look for these kinds of match-winners and Bond is going to be one of them for New Zealand.”

No return to international cricket has been so anticipated since Shane Warne made a comeback after a drugs ban in 2003. After his return, Warne enjoyed three wonderful years in his final chapter. Nobody is sure how to judge Bond’s progress since being recalled, but the hope is that he and fans around the world will be able to smile. If you're going to be a near a television on game day, do try and catch Bond bowling. If he gets a wicket, check out the look on his face.