Hampshire secure Bond deal

Hampshire have signed fast bowler Shane Bond for the opening weeks of the 2008 season.

New Zealander Bond is scheduled to arrive at the Rose Bowl in April and play through until the start of the mid-summer Twenty20.

Team manager Paul Terry said: "I'm really excited about the signing of Shane Bond for the start of our season."

He added: "With the very busy international programme going on at this time of the year, finding a bowler with his genuine quality that has the time and the desire to play county cricket has been difficult - so I'm delighted that Shane has agreed to join Hampshire."

Hampshire captain Shane Warne will be available as their overseas player after the Twenty20 campaign, for which the Hawks intend to sign a "world-class all-rounder".

Warne has signed up for the inaugural Indian Premier League - which cuts across the start of the English domestic season and, along with other commitments for the master leg-spinner, means the Australian veteran will miss much of the first half of the campaign.

Bond's new employers are in no doubt about the pedigree of the 32-year-old, who has 79 Test wickets to his name in an injury-interrupted career but faces an uncertain international future thanks to his links with the breakaway ICL.

"He is regarded as one of the best quick bowlers in the world in all forms of the game," added Terry.

"He will add a wealth of skill and experience to our relatively inexperienced bowling squad, and I look forward to him having a real impact on our early-season cricket."