The NZ all-rounder will miss Friday's World Cup Super Eights match against champions Australia after suffering a recurrence of a heel
ST GEORGE'S/GRENADA: New Zealand's Jacob Oram will miss Friday's World Cup Super Eights match against champions Australia after suffering a recurrence of a heel injury, Black Caps coach John Bracewell said on Thursday.
However, Bracewell insisted the giant pace-bowling all-rounder would be fit for Tuesday's semi-final in Jamaica where New Zealand are set to face Sri Lanka.
"We will be going in with our strongest side for this particular game except Jacob Oram who won't be available because of a problem with his heel," Bracewell said.
Asked if Oram would be fit for the semi-final, former New Zealand off-spinner Bracewell replied: "Yes. That's one of the reasons why he's not playing. It's a precautionary thing.
"He had it for a period of time during the home series. The diagnosis is that the initial impact is the worse case scenario, but he's been able to nurse it through. All of a sudden it's got a little bit more serious, so we've just got to take it easy.
"It's starting to get better with rest already so that's a good indication for us."
Australia are also already through to the semi-finals, meaning Friday's match is not a decisive one for either side.
Bracewell said he'd no qualms about pitching the 28-year-old Oram into a crunch match, saying his situation was similar to that of Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who has been out of action with an ankle injury but is expected to return for the semi-finals.
"It's no more of a concern than Sri Lanka with Malinga. We talked with Jacob about the possibility of playing him as a batter only but we didn't want to weaken the balance of the side by going in a bowler short.
"It gives us an ideal opportunity to feature probably all of our bowlers going into the semi-final."
Oram has scored 162 runs at an average of 40.50 at this World Cup and taken nine wickets at 21.33 apiece.
New Zealand, who've never won the World Cup, would have to beat Australia by a huge margin to overtake the double-defending champions on run-rate at the top of the standings.
Australia, bidding for an unprecedented third straight World Cup title, are set to play South Africa in the second semi-final in St Lucia on Wednesday.
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