Shane Bond: life in the fast lane

Life's good when you bowl 150kmh and even better when you get paid vast sums of money to do so. So it is for Shane Bond, the banned Black Caps speedster spending his summer terrorising New Zealand's domestic batsmen for Canterbury before a return to the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Bond, 33, has tired of constant speculation about a potential return to international cricket, a development that would require the ICL to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.

But after taking 2-19 in a one-day win over Wellington at the Basin Reserve on Monday, he's relaxed and happy to shoot the breeze about anything else, from the standard of play on the sleepy New Zealand domestic scene to life as a rock star in India.

"I started the whole competition pretty slowly but as it's going on it's getting better and better," he says of his State Shield form.

"There's been good wickets and I think that's the main thing. there's been big scores, and I think there's some very good players around the scene now. Obviously the couple of areas that are lacking are quick bowling and back-up spinners, although you've got guys like Nathan McCullum playing down at Otago and of course Jeetan [Patel]. I'm really impressed with the standard of batting, there's some good batters around now and most teams are are really strong."

Bond admits he's biased but, asked to plump for a domestic player capable of stepping up, goes for Canterbury batsman Shanan Stewart. "He's coming into some outstanding form, probably as well as I've seen him play."

Bond is big news in New Zealand but a huge deal in India, where he plays for the Delhi Giants franchise under Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Attapattu.

"Media-wise and what goes on, it's just huge, it's a whole different level," he says. "You're like a rock star, that's what it feels like when you go over there, so it's a nice rubbing of the ego, I suppose, for six weeks.

"But after a while it can wear a bit thin. It's nice to get a taste of it, it's great to see the passion that Indians have for cricket."

Bond says the highlight of the Indian experience is mixing with other former internationals, an opportunity mostly missed while playing for New Zealand "a whole lot of guys that I played quite a bit of cricket against and never got the chance to have too many drinks with. It's a really nice atmosphere off the field and I got to know quite a few blokes from different parts of the world".

Australians Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie, South Africans Lance Klusener and Dale Benkenstein, cheeky England wicketkeeper Paul Nixon "they're all just bloody good fellas, actually. Hopefully, once cricket all finishes, if we ever travel to different parts of the world we'll have someone to catch up with or bunk down with."

Bond says his injury-tormented frame is holding up well and he hopes to fulfil the remaining two years of his three-year ICL deal, as long as the enjoyment remains and batsmen don't start getting comfortable and keepers such as Canterbury's Kruger van Wyk treat his speed with respect.

"I don't want to finish my career being a shadow of what I was. As soon as Kruger comes up to the stumps, I'll retire."

Bond is writing a book due out at the end of the year, with interest likely to centre on his take on the negotiations with New Zealand Cricket that ended in international exile. But as well as getting a few things off his chest, he wants his three children "to see what Dad got up to when he was younger".

As for life after cricket, Bond says his days in the police are over "been there, done that". Instead, he's eyeing a career in coaching: he's completed his level two certificate and wants to get level three in the bag this winter, which he'll spend in Christchurch.

Specialist fast bowling coaching would seem a natural fit. "People say that, but it wouldn't bother me. I quite like the team environment so either a team coach or fast bowling, whatever."

So life's good, then, Shane? "Life's good."

- © Fairfax NZ News