Oram to keep bowling

Blacks Caps all-rounder Jacob Oram is hoping to return to the bowling crease next month in preparation for the Champions Trophy in October.

Oram suffered a stress reaction in his back during the Black Caps tour of South Africa after having earlier fought back from a stress fracture of the back.

Oram told New Zealand Television that he had seen the comments about him not being able to bowl again but said there must have been a mix-up as his rehab is going well according to specialists. Oram went on to say that he doesn’t even want to consider being a batsman only and is committed to returning to the Black Caps line-up as an all-rounder.

If everything goes to plan specialists have told Oram that he should be back bowling within the next month, which should provide enough time for him to return to the fitness levels required for the Champions Trophy in October in India.

Oram has played 20 Tests averaging 42.86 with the bat and 36.42 with the ball, and 83 ODIs averaging 18.46 with the bat and 29.91 with the ball.