Shane Bond retires from test cricket

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Shane Bond rates his successful return to test cricket against Pakistan in Dunedin last month as the most satisfying test of his career.

The 34-year-old has mixed feelings after announcing his retirement from the longer version of the game today, following a career plagued by injuries.

He took a match analysis of eight for 153 to help his side win the Dunedin test, bowling as fast and as well as he ever did, but an abdominal tear ruled him out of the following two tests.

The tear was initially diagnosed as being small and likely to take a couple of weeks to come right, but ended up being more serious with a five to six-week recovery period.

"My initial gut reaction - sorry about the pun - was that I have had enough of getting injured playing four-day cricket and enough is enough ... I think it's a logical choice really", he said of his retirement call.

He told NZPA a few people doubted his ability to recapture his form and pace of old.

"I was determined to be at the same level that I've played before, and that test match sort of signed that off," he said. "Even though I ended up being hurt, looking forward, it has given me the confidence that I'm still capable of playing at this level, and that's why I have not retired from all cricket. It was the most satisfying test match of my career really."

Bond dismissed claims that he should have eased up slightly against Pakistan rather than bowling at maximum effort.

"That's the way I've always played and it's why I've been successful. If being successful and helping the team win means I get injured, well that's just the way it is.

"It's the way I play and I don't think I will ever button off, regardless of if I get injured."

A lingering regret was not getting the chance to play test cricket against Australia again.

"It was one of the highlights - starting my career against that Aussie team in 2001 ... even though I got smoked around the park a bit'."

Another highlight was an away test series win against the West Indies in the 2001-2002 season.

The former police officer remains bullish about his cricket future and said remaining open to selection for the one-day and Twenty 20 sides meant the chances of him being able to continue his international career were higher.

"I feel like I've finished in a good way and that's a chapter shut in my cricket career and I'm looking forward to the last bit."

"I don't want to end on an injury and I am absolutely committed to playing for the Black Caps," he said.

The focus was now on being fit for New Zealand's limited overs matches against Australia, starting with two Twenty20 internationals in late February.

He aims to ease into club cricket in Christchurch next month, followed by provincial cricket in February.

Bond's stint from late 2007 in the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League and a string of back injuries, followed by major surgery in 2004, means he leaves the game with a relatively light 18 tests to his name.

He has taken 87 wickets at a world class average of 22.09.

"I'm pleased to have played 18 tests, I wouldn't have thought I would play one when I was in the police force."

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- NZPA