18 Jun 2009

Bond and Martin to be new ball combination for Canterbury

12:09 pm on 18 June 2009

The New Zealand and Auckland bowler Chris Martin is returning to Canterbury for the 2009-10 season.

Martin and his wife are expecting their first child and are heading back to Christchurch to have family around them for the arrival.

Martin has had four seasons in Auckland and helped spearhead the attack in title wins in State Championship, State Shield and State Twenty20.

He says he's played some of his best cricket in Auckland and enjoyed being part of a side that was bringing on younger players adding he's looking forward to that aspect of his return to Canterbury, having played with only a couple of the current side.

It'll give Canterbury an international opening combination with Martin set to share the new ball with Shane Bond.

Martin made his first-class debut for Canterbury in the 1997-98 season, playing for the province through to 2005 before heading to Auckland.