| Event: | ICC World Cup 2006/07 |
Arresting performances have a whole different meaning for Shane Bond than they do for most cricketers.
The New Zealand fast bowler spent four years as a member of the Christchuch police and the 31-year-old reckons it was the making of him as a player.
Unlike most leading cricketers here at the World Cup, Bond has known a work life beyond the boundary although his decision to become a policeman arose from fears he wouldn't be good enough to bowl professionally.
"I was probably a bit of a softy when I was playing cricket when I was younger and didn't think I'd make it so I went into the cops," Bond told reporters during New Zealand training here Tuesday.
"Then I started to appreciate my cricket a little bit more, was hardened up by it, and once I came out of the police I started bowling genuinely fast."
Bond, who only resigned from the force shortly after the 2003 World Cup in South Africa - where he took a stunning six for 23 against world champions Australia at Port Elizabeth - said his time as a policeman had been pivotal to his cricket career.
"I was in the police for four years. I did bits of everything really, beat cop, traffic, what every other normal cop has to do I suppose.
"You always found yourself in tricky situations. It was a good job, it was the making of me as a cricketer because you were forced into uncomfortable situations and had to deal with it.
"It was the same thing when you became an international cricketer and the bonus for me doing that job before I started doing this.
"Doing a few raids on gang houses weren't particularly nice and mortuary stuff wasn't great," Bond recalled. "There were a few dead bodies along the line. It puts everthing into perspective. If you get hit for four, you get hit for four. That sort of job allows me to relax."
Asked if he thought of going back to the police when his cricket career was over Bond, replying almost as quickly as one of his 94mph deliveries, said: "No chance. It's just nice to be a full-time professional now."
Bond, who made his one-day international debut in 2002, has had years taken out of his career by several stress fractures of the back.
And he admitted he'd come close to quitting cricket when two years later he missed a Test series in England after deciding to opt for surgery.
"It is frustrating. Mention my name and it's always 'injury-prone'.
"I've done everything I can to stay on the park and work hard so whatever happens I've got no regrets.
"The worst time was probably when I fractured my back for the third time and made the decision to have surgery in England in 2004.
"Once I came back I saw this as a long-term goal and the other is to try to play a Test at Lord's next year when I think we tour England. Hopefully, I can tick number one off and start working for number two."
New Zealand open their World Cup campaign against fellow Group C giants England on Friday, their conquerors in the recent tri-series in Australia.
Assuming both Test nations qualify from a pool also featuring Canada and Kenya, the match has added significance as the winners will carry through two points to the second phase, Super Eight stage.
"It gives you some momentum going into the next round," said Bond. "You can almost afford to drop one extra game in the Super Eight series. We've recognised for some time it's an important game and one we have to win."
(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)