Players' chief insists Bond available for New Zealand

Rumours that Shane Bond is set to retire from international cricket have been floating around ever since he recently said that it was "frustrating" to keep getting injured.

But Heath Mills, the New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief, tried to quash such rumours, insisting Bond was available for New Zealand. "At this stage Shane Bond is certainly available to play Test and one-day cricket, but I'm not in position to make any other comment at this stage," Mills told the Dominion Post.

Bond was unavailable for the Chappell-Hadlee Series and will also miss the entire series against Bangladesh due to an abdominal tear he suffered during New Zealand's tour to South Africa. He hopes to recover in time for England's visit in February.

Reports hinting at his retirement were also fuelled by offers that Bond had received from the Indian Cricket League, which he decided not to join, and the Indian Premier League, which he expressed an interest in. Leanne McGoldrick, Bond's agent, said he was in regular contact with Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket's chief executive. "When he [Shane] is ready to let everyone know what he is doing, then he will," she said.