FORMER New Zealand speedster Shane Bond was renowned as one of the most devastating death bowlers in world cricket - a trait fellow Kiwi Sian Ruck is hoping to replicate for the ACT Meteors.
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Left-arm quick Ruck is back in Canberra for her second season in the Women's National Cricket League, fresh from the Twenty20 World Cup.
Ranked in the top 10 women's Twenty20 bowlers in the world, Ruck has always had the ability to swing the new ball, but has worked hard on adding more variety so she can close out games.
That's where Bond comes in.
One of the quickest fast bowlers, at his prime able to reach more than 150 km/h, Bond has helped Ruck with becoming adaptable in different situations.
''We haven't worked on anything technique-wise, it's more in terms of tactics and game awareness, in ways of bowling to certain players and certain conditions,'' Ruck said.
''I've definitely worked a lot and I think I've got a lot more tools in my tool bag to work with.
''It's almost hard to decide what ball to bowl.
''I've learnt a lot about cricket and my role with New Zealand has changed a bit. [I'm] bowling more with the older ball.''
Ruck still opens the bowling for her country, but is now being given the responsibility of coming back in the powerplay overs and at the death, when batters are usually well set and eyeing the boundary.
Normally that would mean spearing the ball up at the stumps, but the slow pitches in Sri Lanka meant length balls were just as effective at the World Cup.
It's a different mindset on the batter-friendly pitches Ruck will face with the Meteors.
''Yorkers are going to come back because you don't get much help as a bowler,'' she said. ''You can swing it early on and, if you bowl a good length later, you'll probably get pumped.''
Ruck is hoping to rebound from a disappointing World Cup in which New Zealand, finalists at the past three tournaments, were knocked out in the semi-finals by England.
She arrived in Canberra last week as part of a new-look fast bowling attack, featuring Australian Southern Stars quick Rene Farrell, who claimed a hat-trick in last summer's Ashes Test.
''I think we've got a fantastic bowling attack, we've got eight quality seam bowlers alone,'' Ruck said.
The ACT Meteors open their WNCL campaign against the NSW Breakers at Blacktown next Friday.
