NEW Zealand pace ace Shane Bond has emerged as a Worcestershire target for the new season.

The Kiwi quick had his New Zealand Cricket contract cancelled last week after he signed a three-year deal with the rebel Indian Cricket League.

With no international commitments in the summer, the 32-year-old could be seen as the ideal candidate to fill the New Road overseas spot.

However, the 17-Test cap star is also available on a Kolpak after walking away from international duty for the lucrative ICL.

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton confirmed that Bond is on their "radar" but it is thought no approach has yet been made.

One concern for the County's fans would be Bond's fitness with the former Black Cap struggling with back problems throughout his career.

He was set to join up with Worcestershire's rivals Warwickshire in 2003 but stress fractures in his feet and back meant the Kiwi was out for 12 months.

Bond signed for Gloucestershire three years later but a knee injury forced the Christchurch-born seamer to again withdraw from the county season. With doubts remaining over whether or not Matt Mason and Simon Jones can stay fighting fit throughout the summer, signing the injury-prone Bond may be considered too big a risk.

However, if he does become director of cricket Steve Rhodes' overseas signing for the 2008 campaign, then New Road's already potent-looking attack will have some extra venom.

The Kiwi pace-man can bowl upwards of 90mph and has 79 wickets from 17 Tests, 125 from 67 one-day internationals and 12 Twenty20 international wickets.

In international cricket, he averages around the 20-apiece mark and would make Worcestershire hot favourites for the LV County Championship Division Two title.