New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has been offered a contract to play for Warwickshire in the English county championship next summer.

Bond relieved at Warwickshire for South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock last month, on a managed bowling workload took 12 wickets at 27.50 with a best of five for 64 in his last game.

Counties are allowed two overseas professionals next year.

Warwickshire are having a change of coach next season with former South African coach Bob Woolmer not available. Former Australian Test cricketer John Inverarity will take over with the county.

Bond's appeal as an all-rounder was boosted with his end of innings batting in New Zealand's opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

Of all scores by No 11 batsmen in One-Day International history, his 26 against Australia was the eighth highest, and the second highest by a New Zealander. West Indian Joel Garner hit 37 which is the world-best while New Zealand's best is held by Chris Pringle who hit 34 not out against the West Indies at Guwahati in 1994/95.

It is the fourth time in ODI history that a No 11 batsman has top-scored.

The 10th-wicket partnership was the fourth time in a New Zealand ODI that it has been the highest partnership.

Meanwhile, fellow New Zealander Craig Spearman who returns next month to play for Central Districts in the State Series, goes into the last round of the second division of the Frizzell County Championship tonight sitting on 1185 runs at 43.88 for the season which made him the fifth highest scorer in the second division.

And New Zealand TelstraClear Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming has been named the captain of the Rest of the World side to play England in the two-match Power Cricket series at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium on October 4-5.

Each limited-overs match, to be played on Friday October 4 and Saturday October 5, will be staged under floodlights on an artificial 'magic carpet' pitch. Sky Sports Television is broadcasting both games live.

Joining Fleming in the matches from New Zealand will be Bond and Nathan Astle, while other players in the side are: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Shoaib Akthar (Pakistan), Azhar Mahmood (Pakistan), Mushtaq Ahmed (Pakistan), Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan), Javagal Srinath (India), Mohammad Kaif (India), Dinesh Mongia (India), Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka), Courtney Walsh (West Indies), Wasim Akram (Pakistan) and Andy Flower (Zimbabwe).

© CricInfo