WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – New Zealand’s injury-ravaged  fast bowler Shane Bond will retire from test cricket to  concentrate on the shorter forms of the game, in a bid to  prolong his international career.

Bond, who in November played his first test in two years  after a stint with the rebel Indian Cricket League, said the  decision was not an easy one, but he needed to bow out of the  longer form of the game after a string of injuries.

“It’s been a tough call because test cricket remains the  ultimate form of the game — but I’m comfortable I’ve made the  right choice,” Bond said in a statement.

Bond, 34, has been viewed as one of New Zealand’s best fast  bowlers, however his career has been decimated by injury. He  has only played 18 tests since his debut in 2002, taking 87  wickets at an average of 22, with a best return of 6 for 51.
In his test comeback against Pakistan in November Bond  snared eights wickets to help New Zealand win the match but he  also picked up an abdominal injury, and has been ruled out of  cricket until late February.

Bond said he is targeting the world Twenty20 and one-day  competitions coming up in the next two years.