Bond ruled out of Test series with abdominal injury

New Zealand Cricket has advised that BLACKCAPS strike bowler Shane Bond will not be available for the second and third Test matches in the current National Bank Series against Pakistan.

Bond suffered minor abdominal discomfort following the first Test in Dunedin. An ultra-sound scan today has indicated that he has a one-centimetre tear in an abdominal muscle.

Team manager Dave Currie said that as a precaution Bond will be rested for the remainder of the Pakistan series. It is expected that he will fully recover in time for the international series against Bangladesh and Australia in the new year. Currie noted that in all other respects Bond's physical condition and fitness is very good, and he had come through the first Test extremely well.

A decision on a replacement for Bond is expected to be made in the next 24 hours.