Shane Bond, the former New Zealand pacer, has expressed an interest in taking up the position of England bowling coach.
Bond is currently working as a consultant with the New Zealand team, but is eyeing the spot left vacant in the England set-up by Chris Silverwood, who was promoted to head coach after Trevor Bayliss’s tenure ended.
“I think you look at everything that’s put in front of you, wherever the opportunities come up,” Bond said. “There was a massive clearing of the decks after the World Cup, and coaches moved not only in the franchise world but in the international world as well.”
An attacking pacer in his prime, Bond’s international career was truncated by his constant battle with injuries, restricting him to 120 games and 259 wickets across nine years. After his retirement, Bond went on to become New Zealand’s bowling coach from 2012 to 2015.
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During the 2017-18 Ashes, he was England’s bowling consultant, and worked with James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, among others, specifically to develop an attacking edge to the bowlers.
His association with cricket in England was extended recently after he was appointed assistant coach to Mahela Jayawardene by The Hundred side Southern Brave.
“I know all the English guys, I caught up with them in Christchurch when they came down for their pre-season tournament,” said Bond. “I really enjoyed being with the team and liked the guys.”
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Shane Bond played 120 games and took 259 wickets across nine years for New Zealand[/caption]
However, as much as he wants the role, Bond, currently the head coach of BBL side Sydney Thunder, and bowling coach IPL champions Mumbai Indians, is apprehensive about the rigours of a full-time coaching role for an international side.
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“The biggest challenge of the international game is the grind of a coach,” he said. “Look at England in particular: 300 days a year on the road, it’s challenging on family life. Whether it’s coaches or players, good management of people is paramount.
Plus, I’m happy with what I’m doing, I’ll do that for as long as I can.”
