He tormented Australian batting lineups as a player but now New Zealand bowling coach Shane Bond is applauding his rivals for a decision to ban four players from their next Test in India.
Bond says under-fire Australian coach Mickey Arthur and captain Michael Clarke will reap long-term rewards for suspending the players for the third Test in Mohali.
Vice-captain Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Johnson and Usman Khawaja failed to meet a request by Arthur to complete a presentation about how the team could improve in a series that Australia trail 2-0. Clarke said it follows other off-field “issues” on the tour.
The bans have been strongly criticised but Bond says Australian team management clearly feel it is time to draw a line in the sand heading into successive Ashes series later this year.
Bond knows Clarke well and says the high personal standards he sets are coming increasingly to the fore in the team’s management style.
“I suppose that’s that culture word, isn’t it? The culture that they just expect stuff to be done when it’s asked to get done,” Bond said.
“When you lose, everything comes into question and they’ve had two pretty comprehensive hidings really by India.
“And they might not come right in these next two Test matches but a year down the track, where will Australian cricket be? That’s the question here.”
Injury prevented Bond from playing Australia more than twice at Test level.
However, he shone in 17 trans-Tasman one-day internationals, claiming 44 wickets at 15.79.
The 37-year-old says Australia’s current crop of players are far better suited to conditions they’ll strike in England in July and August and then again for the return home series starting in November than they are for the sub-continent.
“I thought they’d feel a bit of pain in India when I looked at their team they were taking over,” he said.
“I think their quick bowlers will come more into play (during the Ashes) and the conditions will suit their batsmen more.”
Bond would be surprised if allrounder Watson pulls stumps on his career, which the 31-year-old says he is contemplating.
“Sometimes you can say stuff when it’s still pretty raw,” Bond said.
“I don’t think they’ll lose players, I think they’ve all got a kick in the backside basically.”