Former Kiwi spearhead Shane Bond is missing the longer version of the game and may consider playing for New Zealand again.

Bond said he is working hard on his fitness to return to first class cricket for Canterbury next season and looking at the way things shape up, a return to international cricket may not be completely out of question.

"There are a few issues with the ICL"

"I'm a firm believer in keeping the contracts intact. If they can't fulfil their contract it's an opportunity to move, but if they can then I will stay with them," Bond was quoted as saying in the Dominian post.

"There are a few issues (with the ICL) but I'm not going to go into them. Right now I'm contracted to them (ICL) and whether they want to release me or not is up to them.

"As far as the politics goes, it's out of my hands. Things can change pretty quick to be fair, so all I can do is keep myself in the best shape to make a decision one way or the other," Bond added.

The issue of officially recognising the ICL will be on the table when the International Cricket Council meets in Dubai later this month. Also like many others, Bond has also not been paid by the ICL for more than a year, which is struggling financially due the global recession.

"I'd have to earn my spot in NZ team"

Even if he decides to play for the Black Caps again, Bond knows it won't be a calkwalk to regain his berth in the New Zealand squad, which will play in the Twenty20 world championship in June before a tour to Sri Lanka in August.

"If I decided to play again (for New Zealand) I'd have to earn my spot, I wouldn't expect an open door policy to get me back in; you have to get there on merit."

Bond said he is working hard to get his fitness back up to peak levels.

"I've told the Canterbury coach I want to play four-day cricket next season. I'm going to try to get as fit as I can over the winter and try to play for as long as I can.

"I miss that cricket; even though it's the hardest cricket, it's the most rewarding, and that's why I'd like to play again next summer here.

"Physically things went well this summer but I wasn't at the height of my fitness. So that's why I'm having this winter off, to get back to the same level of fitness I used to have, because I still think I can bowl quick and keep going for another couple of years."