The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Astle and Bond are back

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 09, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Astle and Bond are back

CHRISTCHURCH, APRIL 8. Fast bowler Shane Bond and batsman Nathan Astle have been chosen in the New Zealand squad for the tour of England which begins next month.

The 14-man party was named by coach John Bracewell on Thursday but Bond, who has been suffering from stress fractures of the lower back, and Astle, recovering from knee surgery, must pass fitness tests before the players fly out on April 27.

Seam bowler Daryl Tuffey (knee injury) will also need a fitness check before the team leaves.

There were no surprises in the squad although Bracewell opted for seamer Kyle Mills ahead of spinners Bruce Martin and Paul Wiseman and the in-form Mathew Sinclair.

It has been a long road back for Bond, who has come through two one-day matches over the past week with no problems. He was first injured during the tour of Sri Lanka last May and returned home to recover.

Bond went back to playing club cricket in Christchurch in November but broke down again within a month and missed the home series against Pakistan and South Africa.

Astle toured India but returned home in October after the Test matches, missing the triangular one-day series which also involved Australia. He was named in the Canterbury team for the State Shield one-day final against Central Districts in early February but the batsman who holds the record for the fastest Test double century (153 balls) had to pull out.

He underwent keyhole surgery on his troublesome right knee and missed the recent South Africa series.

Tuffey did not play in the final Test against South Africa owing to a worsening knee injury.

Bracewell said there were a number of players who had performed well during the season and could count themselves unlucky not to be chosen. ``However, we have picked what we consider is the best balanced side for the conditions and opposition we are expecting to encounter,'' he told reporters.

``Traditionally at this time of the year in England the wickets are fresh, grass covered and conducive to seam and swing bowling. Therefore, Kyle Mills comes into the side, giving us another seam bowling option.''

Mills, who has only figured in one-day internationals, is the only uncapped Test player in the squad.

The squad: Stephen Fleming (capt.), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Michael Papps, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey and Daniel Vettori. — Reuters

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