Dynamic but injury-prone New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond announced his retirement from Test cricket Wednesday, saying his body was no longer up to the rigours of the five-day game. "It's been a tough call, because Test cricket remains the ultimate form of the game, but I'm comfortable I've made the right choice," the 34-year-old said.
Bond's latest comeback in the Test series against Pakistan ended after the first Test - in which he took eight wickets - when an abdominal muscle tear ruled him out of the remaining two matches.
"I've worked really hard to get back to Test match fitness - it's what I've been working towards for the past two years - and I feel I gave as much as I could," Bond said. "But looking back, so many of my injuries have come during Test cricket. Bond played only 18 Tests after his debut in 2001 because of a series of injuries and his involvement last year in the rebel Indian Cricket League.