The New Zealand fast bowler announced his return to the test arena with a man-of-the-match performance to help the Black Caps achieve a rare test victory over Pakistan in Dunedin on Saturday.
The 34-year-old took eight wickets for 153 runs in the match and twice dismissed precocious teenager Umar Akmal.
The 19-year-old batting prodigy was threatening to take the game away from the Black Caps on the final day until Bond, rolling back the years, swivelled in mid-air and grasped a sharp return catch.
Two runs later, Iain O'Brien was rewarded for a gutsy spell when he trapped Umar's brother, Kamran Akmal, lbw.
The double breakthrough set the home side on course for victory.
"It was the perfect comeback," Bond said.
"This is why you play test cricket, because it is, I suppose, a true test. It's full of highs and lows.
"There are times when you are standing out in the field and you think the game's gone. But half the battle is getting yourself up again."
The test looked like it was slipping away, with Umar Akmal nudging his side to within 56 runs of its target before Bond struck.
In his two-year absence, the national side has won five of its 20 tests - and three of those barely rate as they came against lowly Bangladesh.
Bond was forced out of international cricket after signing to play for the Indian Cricket League and thought he would never add to his 17 tests.
But an amnesty offered to ICL players paved the way for his return.
He has now taken 87 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 22.09 and has the best strike rate of any New Zealand bowler, claiming a scalp every 38.7 deliveries.
The Black Caps went into the match with just four specialist bowlers and that created its own pressure, with Bond required to bowl nearly 49 overs.
With his long history of injury problems it seemed a risky move, but Bond came through the game almost in one piece, shedding just his left big toenail.
"It was different playing with four bowlers. This was the first time I've done that. You would bowl a spell, someone else would have a go and then I was like `Christ, they are going to give me the ball again'. It was pretty tough."
The toe, he said, looked worse than it was.
