Black Caps fast bowler Shane Bond has announced his retirement from all cricket today, bringing down the curtain on his career eight years after making his debut.
Bond made the statement after arriving home from the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies today.
He made the decision last December to retire from Test cricket, and today comes the news of his intention to withdraw from all forms of the game.
"I know the time is right for me to step down. I have given it everything when playing for the Black Caps. I will miss the camaraderie because it has been a privilege to play along such a great bunch of guys who are so committed to do their best for New Zealand.
"Playing with pride for the Black Caps over the years has meant so much to me. I dreamed of playing for New Zealand when I was six. The reality of what has unfolded was more than I could ever hope for and I have been extremely proud to represent New Zealand.
"I am going to miss a lot of this but I know now is the time to bow out. I am very keen at some stage to put something back into the game in New Zealand."
The Canterbury bowler with blistering speed was one of the fastest bowlers in the world but his career was regularly interrupted with injuries.
Bond, for a time, was the number one bowler in the ICC world one day rankings. For a time, he had the best strike rate in tests and one day internationals in NZC history. At his peak, he had the third best strike rate in test cricket history.
Having initially feared his international days were over when he signed with the Delhi Giants for the so-called rebel Indian Cricket League in 2008, an amnesty allowed him to return to the elite fold.
This year, he played IPL cricket for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He decided to honour his contract there, despite security concerns in India following the bomb blasts outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Bond played eight league games for Kolkata, taking nine wickets with an economy-rate of 7.22. The team failed to qualify for the IPL semifinals, so Bond left India early to join his Black Caps comrades as they prepared for the T20 World Championship.
Bond thanked his wife Tracey, his family, his manager Leanne McGoldrick and all those people from club up to national level who helped and supported him over the years.
NZ Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan paid tribute to Bond's contribution to the game.
"We shall all miss Shane in the international arena. His speed and ability struck fear into batsmen from every team in world cricket. He has been a real match-winner. Shane has had an inspirational presence about him and has been a great role model for younger team mates."
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori also praised Bond's contribution, and went on to say he hoped Bond could continue to give something to the game by mentoring young and up-and-coming fast bowlers.
The ball that changed Shane Bond's career arrived in a flash with a searing yorker that knocked out Adam Gilchrist's stumps in a VB series match against Australia at Adelaide in 2002. He terrified the Australian batsmen in that game; and in that series.
A Kiwi bowling star was born on the world cricketing stage. There's something about the Australians that brought the best out of Bond. In 17 ODIs against them he took 44 wickets at 15.79 runs per wicket, with a Black Caps limited-overs best performance of 6 for 23.
