Shane Bond focused on taking wickets, not pace

Bridgetown, Barbados, Mar 5 (UNI) New Zealand tearaway pacer Shane Bond is ready to sacrifice pace for accuracy and wickets to help his side win the World Cup.

The Kiwi spearhead, once considered the fastest bowler in the world, says wickets are now his top priority.

''There was time when I just wanted to go faster and faster but that has changed. My role is to ensure that I get wickets and give the team an impactful start.

''I have sort of more relaxed nowadays and the ego is gone a bit.

I have added skills to my bowling and believe I am a better and more complete bowler now,'' the 31-year-old World Cup second timer said, ahead of their first warm-up match against Bangladesh tomorrow at the 3Ws Oval, Barbados.

Bond said the key in the early stages of the tournament was to remain relaxed and preserve energy to produce the best in the Super Eight stage.

''The key here is trying not to get too tense and don't get carried away. Just to stay relaxed and keep everyone else relaxed as well,'' he explained.

''This will be a very long tour so you will have to pace yourself and make sure sure you're strong all the way to the finish.

"We all recognise we have a long, long way to go and we are looking at a gradual build-up before we face England in our first tournament game,'' he said.

New Zealand are grouped in Group C, along with England, Kenya and Canada and will play their preliminary round matches at St. Lucia.

UNI