Shane Bond insists he would jump at the chance to return to the New Zealand side if he was handed an international recall.

The 32-year-old’s contract with the national team was cancelled after he signed to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

But despite being cast aside, the paceman, unquestionably New Zealand’s most fearsome bowler, would still answer his country’s call if they came knocking.

The Kiwis begin a three-Test series with England at Lord’s on May 15.

Bond, who is playing for Hampshire, told the Daily Mail: "If New Zealand want to pick me, I’m available.

"If they rang me up before the Lord’s Test and said, ‘We’ve got three guys injured, can you play?’ of course I would play. I just don’t think that will happen."

Bond initially sought approval - which was granted subject to a commitment to make himself available for the tour of England - from New Zealand before he signed his lucrative ICL contract.

But Bond says that under pressure from the BCCI, who are eager to see the back of the privately-run ICL to ensure the primacy of their own Indian Premier League, his national board performed a sudden U-turn and terminated his contract.

As a result, he missed the Test and one-day series against England in New Zealand before heading off to India to play for Delhi Giants in the second ICL tournament.

Bond added: "If New Zealand Cricket had said they wouldn’t give me permission, I wouldn’t have signed.

"They don’t want to pick me because of pressure from another country’s board.

"It is a ridiculous situation, but I suppose India hold the power, which is why I’ve been left in the lurch.

"Before England toured I could have gone to court and put an injunction on the team so that it was named on merit.

"I was told I would have had a pretty good chance of winning the case but I didn’t want to go down that legal avenue. So, as it stands, I am available but ‘unselectable’.