The 30-year-old Bond, who suffered a second stress fracture in his back during last year's tour of England, has not played Test cricket since the tour of Sri Lanka in May 2003.

Although he bowled sparingly off a short run-up in net practice on Wednesday, New Zealand coach John Bracewell said the Kiwis were keen to unleash Bond on the struggling Zimbabweans.

"We've placed a few limits on him in training, but he's looking good and, if he gets selected, those limits fall away," Bracewell told Reuters.

"He bowled with genuine pace in the warm-up games (which New Zealand played in Namibia before arriving in Zimbabwe on Tuesday).

"A fit fast bowler is what you want in any side."