Oram Fit for Lords

Palmerston North Black Caps all-rounder Jacob Oram, 29, has recovered from stress-related injury and is braced for the first Test against England at Lords on May 15. Oram’s economy rate of 2.4 is the best among leading New Zealand bowlers of the past 20 years and superior to that of Sir Richard Hadlee. At 6ft 6in, Oram might be considered a stretch version of the limousine of fast bowlers. Oram says this Test series could be perceived as either daunting or an adventure. “It could be damned rocky but a year or two from now we might feel the benefits. New Zealand cricket tends to go up and down. We have some rough periods then hit a golden patch. Cricket remains very popular in our country and our domestic cricket is a lot more professional than it was,” he says.