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Injuries, off-pitch woes mar NZ preparation
Created: 2008-12-19 0:18:47
NEW Zealand's troubled preparation for the second test against the West Indies continues as current and former teammates squabble, injuries create selection doubts and an off-pitch debate ensues over team management.
Jacob Oram was ruled out of the McLean Park match which begins today at Napier with a calf injury.
It was the latest in a series of injuries which have kept him out of New Zealand's last five tests, forcing him to defend his fitness record.
Oram's former New Zealand teammate Craig McMillan, who retired from international cricket last season, launched a blunt attack on the tall allrounder saying he had been "wrapped in cotton wool" by the Kiwi coaches.
"Unfortunately, with Jake's track record ... he has missed some games that maybe he could have got through," McMillan said yesterday.
Oram missed New Zealand's two tests against Bangladesh earlier this season with a back injury and both tests against Australia in Australia with a continuation of that problem. He was named to play in the drawn first test against the West Indies at Dunedin, a match marred by rain, but withdrew when he strained a calf muscle in training.
Oram's international career has been plagued by injuries and McMillan echoed the wider public sentiment when he questioned whether the New Zealand veteran succumbed too easily to fitness concerns.
"You've always got sore calves, hammys, but you just get on and do it," he said.
Oram responded testily to McMillan's criticism, saying it was made worse by the fact it came from a former teammate.
"I understand people who have never bowled a ball in anger in their lives having a bit of a go at me for potentially being on the soft side, but it's extremely disappointing to come from an ex-teammate," he said.
Adding to the New Zealand team's distractions has been published reports of an apparent mixup in the appointment of a new team manager.
Long-serving manager Lindsay Crocker was expected to stand down during the first test in Dunedin and his place was reportedly about to be taken by former rowing administrator Craig Ross.
Ross flew to Dunedin, apparently to take up his new role, then returned home early when New Zealand Cricket postponed his appointment.
Jacob Oram was ruled out of the McLean Park match which begins today at Napier with a calf injury.
It was the latest in a series of injuries which have kept him out of New Zealand's last five tests, forcing him to defend his fitness record.
Oram's former New Zealand teammate Craig McMillan, who retired from international cricket last season, launched a blunt attack on the tall allrounder saying he had been "wrapped in cotton wool" by the Kiwi coaches.
"Unfortunately, with Jake's track record ... he has missed some games that maybe he could have got through," McMillan said yesterday.
Oram missed New Zealand's two tests against Bangladesh earlier this season with a back injury and both tests against Australia in Australia with a continuation of that problem. He was named to play in the drawn first test against the West Indies at Dunedin, a match marred by rain, but withdrew when he strained a calf muscle in training.
Oram's international career has been plagued by injuries and McMillan echoed the wider public sentiment when he questioned whether the New Zealand veteran succumbed too easily to fitness concerns.
"You've always got sore calves, hammys, but you just get on and do it," he said.
Oram responded testily to McMillan's criticism, saying it was made worse by the fact it came from a former teammate.
"I understand people who have never bowled a ball in anger in their lives having a bit of a go at me for potentially being on the soft side, but it's extremely disappointing to come from an ex-teammate," he said.
Adding to the New Zealand team's distractions has been published reports of an apparent mixup in the appointment of a new team manager.
Long-serving manager Lindsay Crocker was expected to stand down during the first test in Dunedin and his place was reportedly about to be taken by former rowing administrator Craig Ross.
Ross flew to Dunedin, apparently to take up his new role, then returned home early when New Zealand Cricket postponed his appointment.
Agencies
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