NEW ROLE: Shane Bond is expected to be named as the Black Caps bowling coach.

Shane Bond has joined the Black Caps and will travel to Sri Lanka next week as the side's new bowling coach.

New Zealand Cricket expects to announce the 37-year-old, one of the country's most destructive bowlers, as Damien Wright's replacement in the coming days but The Press understands it is a done deal.

Wright joined the side in July last year replacing Allan Donald but wanted to spend more time with his family and stepped aside following the recent Twenty20 World Cup.

While the Black Caps have had a torrid time of late as a team, Wright's influence on the bowlers has been seen as positive. That leaves Bond hefty boots to fill but, in his limited coaching career, Bond too has impressed.

Since pulling stumps on an injury-plagued career early in 2010, he has primarily worked with the Central Districts bowlers.

He helped prepare them for the 2010 Champions' League Twenty20 competition and has been with them since where he's worked with several of the country's more promising quicks including Doug Bracewell and Adam Milne.

Bond andBlack Caps assistant coach Bob Carter then worked together during the winter with New Zealand Cricket's 10-person development group which included five fast bowlers.

Widely regarded as New Zealand's best quick since Richard Hadlee, Bond won't be short of credibility with the current crop of bowlers, though working with former team-mate, now stalwart Chris Martin could be interesting, as Martin is six months Bond's senior.

As a player, Bond seemed to improve against tougher opponents and, as a bowling coach, he'll need to do the same.

His first job will be on the batter-friendly Sri Lankan pitches followed by a tour to South Africa to play the top team in the world before home and away tours against England, the second-ranked test side.