CHRISTCHURCH, May 24: Paceman Shane Bond was named in New Zealand’s Test and one-day squads on Friday for the forthcoming tour to West Indies after recovering from a stress fracture of his left foot.

Bond was recalled to the squads announced by chairman of selectors Richard Hadlee to bolster a bowling attack weakened by the injuries to Chris Cairns, Shayne O’Connor and Andre Adams and the recent retirement of Dion Nash.

Bond, the top wicket-taker in the one-day triangular series against hosts Australia and South Africa in January, missed the recent home test series against England.

All-rounder Nathan Astle, who suffered a knee injury in Pakistan before the tour there was called off following a bomb blast in Karachi earlier this month, has recovered and takes his place in both squads.

Paul Hitchcock, the Wellington medium-pacer, has been named as Adams’s replacement in the one-day squad, but will return home before the Test series.

Hitchcock was the top wicket-taker in domestic one-day competition last season, claiming 22 victims at an average of 14.5.

One surprise is the inclusion of left-arm spinner Matthew Hart, brother of new test wicketkeeper Robbie and who last played for New Zealand in the 1999 World Cup.

Spinner Hart was named in the one-day squad but will return home before the test series.

The first of the five one-day internationals is in Jamaica on June 5. The two-test series begins on June 21 in Barbados.

New Zealand’s one-day squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Chris Harris, Matthew Hart, Matthew Horne, Paul Hitchcock, Craig McMillan, Chris Nevin, Jacob Oram, Daryl Tuffey, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Wicketkeeper Robbie Hart, opening batsman Mark Richardson and fast bowler Chris Martin will join the squad for the Tests, with Nevin, Hitchcock, Oram, Styris and Matthew Hart returning home.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

MATTERS have worsened in the stand-off between the Azad Kashmir government and the Joint Awami Action Committee,...
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...