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Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Bonding New Zealand cricketer Shane Bond

One of the fastest bowlers in the world, he is as unfussy about his culinary choices as his bowling action. The Kiwi is here for the Indian Cricket League. Settling for a cup of coffee with cookies, Shane is quite at home with Indian delicacies.

“Indian spices don’t affect my tummy. And my wife likes it even hotter!” A fan of butter chicken and chicken tikka, Shane says he writes down the ingredients of his favourites and asks his wife to cook them at home. Shane is not a frequent visitor to the kitchen. “I am one of those who cooks diligently for a day and then is not seen for the next three months in the kitchen.”

Shane’s shining career, in which he became the second quickest to claim 100 wickets in One Day cricket, has been hampered by frequent injuries. With crispy cookies for company, Shane explains, “It is something common to fast bowlers from New Zealand. We are prone to injuries because of the climate. It’s so cold at times that even after bowling a few overs you still feel cold. We find it difficult to adjust in other countries. Also, unlike England, where they plan overseas tours during the off season, the Kiwi Board doesn’t have the financial strength to organise tours during the off season. The long layoff period has an adverse impact on the body.”

Shane who works as a cop, something which has instilled discipline in his life, says when on the field he makes sure to have enough water and “eat lots of lollies to maintain optimum sugar level.” A rare fast bowler who doesn’t indulge in sledging, Shane says he was bombarded by Brett Lee with nasty words in his very first series. “But I don’t like to give it back in words. However, there is a role for players who can unsettle the batsmen with their words. We had (Craig) MacMillan.”

Shane feels a player should know his body and should not depend on physiotherapists and doctors too much.

“The player should be able to pinpoint which body part is the root of his problem and how much medication and exercise he can undertake before going for medical advice. Otherwise there is always a chance of aggravating the injury.”

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