Injury-ravaged Jacob Oram targets World Cup

Cricinfo staff

August 28, 2010

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	The patella tendon injury Jacob Oram suffered against Australia has returned to sideline him © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links News : Knee surgery forces Oram out of Champions League News : Knee injury sends Jacob Oram home News : Oram faces a month on sidelines News : Knee injury may force Oram out of series Players/Officials: Jacob Oram Teams: New Zealand

New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram has said that he is not yet ready to retire and is determined to play the 2011 World Cup despite another knee injury, which forced him out of the tri-series in Sri Lanka and also next month's Champions League Twenty20. Oram said he was targeting the home series against Pakistan, which begins on Boxing Day, for a comeback.

"I'm looking at that [World Cup] as the carrot for me because I need something to keep me focused or I will probably slip into 'woe is me' mode and look at the 'R' word. I'm not ready for that yet," Oram told the Dominion Post. "Obviously my body has gone past the hinting period - I think it's yelling at me. But I'm pretty stubborn and I still have this big goal of going to the World Cup.

"If I miss the World Cup, then recover to a stage where I feel as good as I can, I may keep going. But it just may be one kick in the guts too many if I don't make the World Cup."

Oram's latest setback - patella tendon damage - occurred in Dambulla, where New New Zealand were competing in a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India, and he had to fly home before the campaign was over. Oram had hoped the injury would require only minor surgery but scans revealed that it needed a full repair job and he is set to undergo surgery next week.

The setback was the latest one in a tough year for Oram, who forfeited his IPL fee after suffering a torn patella during the ODIs against Australia in March. He made it back for the ICC World Twenty20 but continued to feel pain and aggravated the problem again during a camp in Australia in July. Oram will now miss out on Central Districts campaign in the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa.

"There are a number of reasons why this is terrible timing, and probably the reason why this is the hardest injury I've had to deal with," he said. "With the amount of injuries and limited game time I've had, my form has dipped and with that a bit of confidence. I've also slipped down the batting order so I'm thinking, if I give bowling up, they're not going to pick me as a specialist batter at seven or eight."

On a brighter note, Oram returned home from Sri Lanka to find that his eight-month-old son had begun crawling and said despite his injuries that " things could be a lot worse".

Champions League Twenty20 2010

Shane Bond in coaching role for Central Districts

Cricinfo staff

August 31, 2010

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	Shane Bond will be heading to South Africa with Central Districts © Getty Images Enlarge
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Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, has been appointed assistant coach of Central Districts for the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa. He will be deputising for coach Alan Hunt and will be in charge of the team's pace attack.

"I love cricket and I love being involved in the game. I think I've got a bit to offer," Bond told the Dominion Post. "I've set some targets that I'd like to coach at a higher level. This is a nice opportunity to cut my teeth and then see what happens. I'm hoping to make a good impression."

Bond played 18 Tests, taking 87 wickets at an impressive average of 22.09. He also represented New Zealand in 82 ODIs and played for Canterbury in the domestic circuit. He announced his retirement from international cricket in May this year after having stepped out of the Test format in December 2009.

Central Districts, led by batsman Jamie How, will be without the services of some of their senior players for the tournament. Ross Taylor will be representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, allrounder Jacob Oram has been ruled out due to an injured knee and Graham Napier has a stress facture of the back. However, they boast a strong pace attack including Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne and Ben Wheeler. A fourth seamer, Bevan Small, will miss the tournament due to an injury.

"CD are lucky to have four of the best young bowlers in the country. They're all very talented and it's quite exciting to be working alongside those guys. Milne and McClenaghan get it through at around 140kmh."

Central Districts qualified for the Champions League by beating Auckland in the final of New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 tournament in January this year. Despite their depleted line-up, Bond was optimistic. "We've got some inexperience but that's one thing that you fly under the radar."

Sehwag, seamers lead India into final

India 223 (Sehwag 110, Southee 4-49, McCullum 3-35) beat New Zealand 118 (Mills 52, Praveen 3-34, Patel 3-21) by 105 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	It appeared as though Virender Sehwag was batting on a different pitch © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Matches: India v New Zealand at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka Triangular Series Teams: India | New Zealand

A combination of belligerent hitting by Virender Sehwag and potent seam bowling helped India storm into the final of the tri-series against Sri Lanka with a comprehensive thrashing of New Zealand in the last league game. On a day when a majority of the specialist batsmen on both sides batted with two left feet in bowler-friendly conditions, Sehwag found a way to carve out an aggressive century, scoring more than what all 11 New Zealanders managed between them. The target of 224 was soon out of New Zealand's reach after their top order crumbled against a four-pronged seam attack, a bowling combination you wouldn't associate with Indian sides, especially in the subcontinent.

By the end of the night, you could imagine batsmen queuing up outside Sehwag's door for the inside story on how he managed to dominate everything thrown at him. It was as though he was batting on another surface. Sehwag was unfazed by the early movement and nip off the wicket, which made the seamers potent. He played in a style known only to him and, with the final in three days' time, his innings today will undoubtedly be analysed in detail.

MS Dhoni took the gamble of batting on a fresh pitch, despite India having collapsed for 103 after batting first in their previous match against Sri Lanka. New Zealand's seamers nipped out four wickets by the end of the 13th over with a combination of swing, cut and bounce, which strikes took the sheen off an entertaining start from Sehwag.

Not known for exaggerated foot movements, Sehwag used the crease to loft the seamers over the off side. He barely moved across the stumps but such was his confidence that he stretched to scoop and slash powerfully over backward point. He backed away and slapped the slower bowlers past the infield as well. A more conventional punch through cover brought up his 1000th ODI four, one that was part of a sequence of three consecutive fours off Tim Southee.

India were lucky to have Dhoni at the other end, for he rotated the strike and built a solid partnership with Sehwag. Their stand produced 107, but India needed more from their last capable pair, having only Ravindra Jadeja, who is still trying to find his feet in ODIs, and a long tail to follow. Sehwag, however, didn't alter his approach. He continued to charge the spinners, lifting Kane Williamson inside out over extra cover for boundaries, and also cleverly picked the gaps at fine leg off the seamers. He played an upper cut over the vacant slip cordon shortly after getting to his century, but the fun ended for India when Sehwag found deep midwicket when on 110. His dismissal was against the run of play.

Dhoni, who had batted carefully, had to try to reclaim the advantage for India, but New Zealand took control. Having grafted to 38 off 75 balls, Dhoni edged a Nathan McCullum delivery while trying to drive. The dismissals of Sehwag and Dhoni in quick succession meant a premature end to the innings was inevitable. Soon after New Zealand picked up the final wicket, though, their control over the game came to a grinding halt.

They had no-one with Sehwag's calibre and temperament to take the initiative, irrespective of the damage being done at the other end. They were exposed against the moving ball and even seasoned performers struggled. Praveen Kumar started the slide in conditions tailored to his variety of bowling, trapping Martin Guptill leg before in first over.

There was no respite from the other end as Ashish Nehra, with his extra pace when compared to Praveen, got the ball to nip in sharply to the right-handers, slicing them in half. A lot depended on the experienced Ross Taylor, but he was just as circumspect as the rest. He expected the ball to move in, but it went the other way and took a thick outside edge, giving Praveen his second wicket.

New Zealand's chase was irreparably damaged when their senior-most batsman, Scott Styris, chopped one on to his stumps without moving his feet. Grant Elliott knew that the best way to counter the swing was to cover the line and smother the movement. He regularly shuffled across the stumps, committing to the movement even before delivery, but his method didn't yield runs as almost every defensive push found fielders. Williamson, who finally scored an international run in his third innings, was dismissed by an Ishant Sharma delivery which cut in and took the edge onto the stumps. Munaf, who was miserly to begin with, bagged two lbws with with his probing line.

Kyle Mills' blitz only succeeded in saving New Zealand the embarrassment of being bowled out for less than 100.

Kanishkaa Balachandran is a sub-editor at Cricinfo

Taylor, Styris star in hard-earned win for New Zealanders

Cricinfo staff

August 4, 2010

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New Zealanders 220 for 7 (Taylor 67, Styris 57) beat Sri Lanka Board President's XI 219 for 9 (Perera 62*, Tuffey 2-34, McKay 2-38) by three wickets
Scorecard

	New Zealanders' seamers had the home batsmen in trouble early on © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Thisara Perera | Scott Styris | Ross Taylor Matches: Sri Lanka Board President's XI v New Zealanders at Colombo (SSC) Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka Triangular Series Teams: New Zealand | Sri Lanka

New Zealanders endured poor passages of play in the latter stages of either innings, but did enough to seal victory against Sri Lanka Board President's XI in their first match on tour. The win was easier than suggested by the eventual three-wicket margin, as Ross Taylor and Scott Styris struck fluent fifties before the visitors crossed the line with 72 balls to spare.

BP XI elected to bat first, but did not account for their opponents' inspired fast-bowling pack. Things began to go awry in the third over when Daryl Tuffey breached Mahela Udawatte's defence with nine runs on the board. Dinesh Chandimal was run out for two in the next over, exposing the middle order. They did not fare too well as three wickets fell for the addition of just one run: Lahiru Thirimanne edged Tuffey behind, while Chamara Silva and Thilina Kandamby did likewise against Tim Southee and Jacob Oram respectively. The score read 34 for 5 in 12 overs and BP XI desperately needed a repair job.

Kosala Kulasekara put his head down in the company of Milinda Siriwardana and they steadied the ship, adding 29 in 10.4 overs before Clint McKay got into the flow of things, getting the former to give Gareth Hopkins his fourth catch behind the wickets. With both teams having twelve players to choose from, BP XI were batting fairly deep and it worked in their favour. Farveez Maharoof kept Siriwardana company for a 64-run stand for the seventh wicket, off 93 balls. Just when they looked set to step up, New Zealanders managed to dismiss both batsmen before they could reach fifties.

That the hosts had something to bowl at was down to the effort of Thisara Perera who stunned the bowlers with an impressive assault. Southee suffered the most damage, going for 64 while the rest of his colleagues finished with respectable figures. Perera smashed eight fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 39-ball 62, as the last 7.5 overs went for 81 runs. Seekkuge Prasanna gave him good support, lashing a six and two fours in his 18 as BP XI finished with 219.

New Zealanders' chase faced an early setback when Nuwan Pradeep got BJ Watling to nick one behind for four. However, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor made light of his fall, adding 65 at better than a-run-a-ball. Guptill struck three fours in his 33-ball 26 before Prasanna struck him in front of the stumps. Thereafter Scott Styris laced into the bowling in an aggressive partnership with Taylor to put the result beyond doubt.

Taylor played some pleasing shots, picking seven fours and a six before Kandamby sent him back after a partnership of 95 in 14.1 overs. Styris smashed two sixes and five fours, racing to 57 off 45 balls before he too fell to Kandamby's wiles in the 30th over. New Zealanders had a few nervous moments, losing Grant Elliott and Hopkins, with 23 runs still to get. Oram however held one end up while Tuffey lashed four fours to ensure there was no upset.

New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka

New Zealand crush Sri Lanka A by 185 runs

Cricinfo staff

August 7, 2010

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	Kyle Mills contributed with both bat and ball © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Kyle Mills | Jacob Oram | BJ Watling Matches: Sri Lanka A v New Zealanders at Pallekele Series/Tournaments: New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka Teams: New Zealand | Sri Lanka

The New Zealanders crushed Sri Lanka A by 185 runs at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium as the hosts were dismissed for 91 chasing a stiff target of 276.

The Lankan chase got off to a poor start when opener Dilshan Munaweera was run out for 10. Kyle Mills then scythed through the batting order, taking three wickets in as many overs. He accounted for Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedara and Kushal Perera as Sri Lanka A were reduced to 25 for 4. The Sri Lankans never recovered from those early blows and kept losing wickets regularly, as the other New Zealand bowlers kept up the pressure. As many as seven batsmen failed to reach double figures as the hosts were bowled out in 22.4 overs.

Earlier, Bradley-John Watling and Jacob Oram scored contrasting half-centuries as New Zealand recovered from a mid-innings stutter to post a challenging 276. Opening the innings, Watling scored a patient 74 from 95 deliveries and shared an 88-run stand with his captain Ross Taylor who made 47 off 48. Watling was bowled by Jeevan Mendis with the score on 159. Grant Elliott and Gareth Hopkins fell soon thereafter to leave New Zealand struggling at 193 for 7. However, Jacob Oram combined with Mills in an unbeaten 83-run stand for the eighth wicket that came in only 9.5 overs. Oram provided a late flourish to the innings making 61 off only 45 deliveries with four fours and two sixes.

India v New Zealand, 1st ODI, Dambulla

India undone by 'spongy' bounce

Siddarth Ravindran in Dambulla

August 11, 2010

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	Ravindra Jadeja was one of several Indian batsmen caught at slip © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: MS Dhoni | Scott Styris Matches: India v New Zealand at Dambulla Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka Triangular Series | New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka Teams: India | New Zealand

Every now and then the Indian batting is tested in difficult one-day conditions, and they usually tend to come up short, though not as spectacularly as against New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-series. Last year, they batted first on a damp pitch in Guwahati and were sliced to 27 for 5 by Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger before Praveen Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja partially revived India with half-centuries. There was no lower-order rescue on Monday, and India slid to the lowest total in ODIs this year.

There wasn't the exaggerated movement which worked so well for India in the Asia Cup final, but the bounce and slowness of the track proved too much. MS Dhoni explained that while the pacy short ball has troubled some of the Indian batsmen, it was not what they were up against in Dambulla.

"This is completely different bounce, it is very spongy, bowlers are bowling 125-126 and the keeper is standing where he usually does for Shoaib Akhtar," Dhoni said. "You can't really drive off the backfoot, the only option is to cut and pull, and if the bowler doesn't give room, it is very difficult to score."

There were no magic deliveries from New Zealand to warrant such a limp display. All Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills did was keep the ball a touch short and maintain tight lines, which was enough to coax India's batsmen to give the New Zealand slip cordon a thorough workout. Rohit Sharma opened the face to steer to slip, Suresh Raina attempted a cover drive away from his body to edge to slip, Yuvraj Singh fished outside off to nick it to slip.

"Players in the subcontinent generally don't like the ball anywhere above the waist," Scott Styris said. "Not because they are scared but because it is different compared to the usual subcontinental wicket. This has lot more bounce and we learnt that during the practice sessions. We really wanted to put some short balls in there."

Styris had played a big role in New Zealand recovering from a top-order collapse, his 190-run partnership with Ross Taylor effectively putting the match beyond India. Dhoni was unhappy about the mistakes in the field that allowed New Zealand to reach such a commanding total. "There were a couple of missed chances, Styris missed stumping [when he was on 16], Ross Taylor's dropped catch [on 45 by Suresh Raina], still if we had got both of them they still would have got at least 200 which the way they bowled would have been very difficult to chase."

New Zealand packed their side with quick bowlers, a strategy which worked well for them, but India were left with only two quick bowlers for much of the innings after Abhimanyu Mithun's heat stroke. While the new-ball bowlers, Praveen Kumar and Ashish Nehra, took 7 for 90 between them, India's spinners were caned for 161 runs in 26 overs. "We had four fast bowlers and they had three. That was the difference," Styris said. "We knew that they didn't have reserves."

Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at Cricinfo

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