da jogodeouro： After being cleared of a stress fracture, Jacob Oram, the New Zealand allrounder, is hopeful of being fit for the three Test series against Australia which begins in March
da bet nacional： Cricinfo staff03-Feb-2005.
Jacob Oram: hopeful of playing in the Tests© Getty Images
After being cleared of a stress fracture, Jacob Oram, the New Zealand allrounder, is hopeful of being fit for the three Test series against Australia which begins in March. Oram has been diagnosed with a stress reaction and is receiving treatment for a bruised vertebrae which is likely to prevent him from bowling during the series. However, he could still play as a specialist batsman.”If I was asked to play as a specialist I’d love to but that won’t be easy because the middle order is fairly packed at the moment,” Oram told . “And if I did [play as a batsman], it would only be a short-term thing because ultimately I want to be an allrounder. It’s not really my call, but it is something I’m interested in.”Oram’s performance with the bat during the recently concluded two-Testseries against Australia should give him the edge over Craig McMillan andHamish Marshall, two other contenders for middle-order berths. Oram toppedthe Test batting averages in that series, and his magnificent 126 at theGabba was the only century for New Zealand.”Plenty of people are saying to me `give up the bowling, your body is not up to it’ but the reason I worked so hard on my bowling was to help my chances of getting in the side.”I played as a specialist batsman at Headingley [against England last year] and it felt like I only had one arm so being an allrounder is a nice thing to fall back on and something I would never let go of lightly. As for when I bowl again, I don’t know, I don’t think anybody does and we are not putting any deadline on it.”Aware of Oram’s importance to the side, New Zealand Cricket’s medical teamis chalking down a comprehensive recovery programme for him. Oram has not been given permission to run yet and is not expected to play club cricket for a fortnight.However, there better news for Daniel Vettori, who was given the all clearto return to action for Northern Districts this weekend after recovering from back injury
