Bond given till Sunday

New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has been given till Sunday to overcome his back injury, or he will face being sent home to recover.

Bond injured his back in cruel circumstances during his sides loss to England in Hobart last week, just days after taking a spectacular hat-trick against Australia.

New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker said, that should Bond be unable to recover before Sundays game against Australia in Perth, the bowler would have to be sent home, taking no further part in the tour.

“If he doesn’t get right, we will make a call post-Adelaide,” he said.

“Perth is our earliest realistic expectation of getting him fit, but we will see how he goes over the next three-to four days.”

It’s not all bad news for Bond with scans clearing him of any stress fractures and a MRI clearing him of any long term problems.