Hampshire are "close" to finalising an agreement that will allow Shane Bond to represent the county this season, according to coach Paul Terry.

Kiwi fast bowler Bond signed for Hampshire for the first eight weeks of the season back in February. But his involvement with the rebel Indian Cricket League, which resulted in the termination of his New Zealand contract, also threatened his chances of turning out for Hampshire.

Non-English players require a no-objection certificate' from their home board before being allowed to play in England - and New Zealand Cricket were refusing to issue one for Bond.

Hampshire have been trying to negotiate one with New Zealand Cricket that they hope will result in the ECB registering Bond for the coming county season. And those negotiations look like being successful.

Terry said yesterday: "That is looking good. He arrives next week so hopefully we will not have to send him straight back. We are pretty sure that everything is close and the registration and all those types of things will be fine."

For full story see today's Daily Echo.