Oram out of second Test

Jacob Oram has failed to recover from a calf strain and misses the second Test

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Jacob Oram has been ruled out of the second Test against West Indies while Chris Martin and Peter Fulton have been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of the match in Napier.

Oram has failed to recover from a calf strain and will now target a return for the Twenty20 and one-day matches. The first Twenty20 is in Auckland on Boxing Day.

Andy Moles reckons the injury-prone 30-year-old may have paid the price for being rushed back into action on previous occasions and did not want history to repeat itself.

“(Kyle) Mills came in and bowled really well as cover for him,” said the coach. “But Jake, he's a world-class performer and he’s had niggles that we’ve got him over and we’ve played him perhaps just before he’s been 100% right.

“The medical team have taken the decision, with Jake, that we’re going to make sure we get him back 100% right so we can start with a clean canvas and we can push on with Jake being 100% fit as opposed to rushing him back for the next game.

“He is vital to the side but we’ve taken the decision that’s best for the team and the best for Jake to make sure we get him back 100% so we can have him over a longer period.”

Injuries to all-rounder James Franklin and batsman Ross Taylor have made it necessary for Moles to bring in Martin and Fulton who were not part of the original squad named for the two-Test series.

Martin, who was dropped after the 2-0 series loss to Australia, comes in as cover for Franklin, who took a nasty blow to the ribs while batting during New Zealand’s first innings and failed to take a wicket in his 15 overs with the ball while conceding 61 runs.

Chris Martin has come in for James Franklin who was hit in the chest © Getty Images

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“Franklin took a blow in the chest so Chris Martin will come in and cover for him,” said Moles.

“He was getting back into Test-match cricket as well and he was just a bit stiff. You all saw the blow, it hit him very hard and he’s over that now hopefully. We’ll assess that going into the next two days’ practice.”

Fulton was also cut after the disappointing trip across the Tasman. He joins the squad as cover for Taylor, who dislocated and chipped a bone in the ring finger of his right hand when he dropped a catch off Brendan Nash in the slips.

He immediately left the field and did not return and he was not required to bat in New Zealand’s second innings as the final day’s play was abandoned because of rain.

Taylor is expected to train tomorrow and be available for selection.

“The medical people believe he will be all right,” said Moles. “It’s just his comfort level, can he cope.

“The swelling has gone down a bit so we’ll know more tomorrow once he’s had a net.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket have confirmed that Lindsay Crocker will remain as team manager for the remainder of the West Indies series.

The team manager position is one that has been under review following an organisational shake-up earlier this year and the changes in the support team structure and personnel which followed the appointment of new coach Moles.

But NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said with a Test and one-day series now under way it was important to provide some continuity for the team in the coming weeks.

Lindsay Crocker will remain New Zealand team manager for the rest of the series

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Crocker has been team manager for the past five years and Vaughan added: “Lindsay’s experience and expertise as a team manager is an asset to the team.”

The players have been calling for the situation regarding the team manager’s job to be clarified after they and the Cricket Players’ Association said farewell to Crocker on the Sunday night prior to the first Test against West Indies, assuming he was to be replaced by former Rowing New Zealand chief executive Craig Ross.

But Ross departed Dunedin before the Test began for more talks with New Zealand Cricket and Crocker has been continuing the role on a day-to-day basis.

Vaughan confirmed Ross was one of the candidates being considered and that he had been in Dunedin to get a first-hand look at the team set-up.

“We considered the possibility of an early handover in the event the recruitment process was concluded. However with the team about to start an important series and the process ongoing, it was decided that the timing wasn’t right,” Vaughan said.

“It’s important we make a good decision on this key role, and we are working through a comprehensive process, as we are for other positions.

“We will continue to evaluate potential long-term candidates, including Craig and Lindsay, and will make a considered decision later in the season.

“I acknowledge the timing hasn’t been ideal, and the process has been unsettling. But it’s good to see that the team dynamic is really positive and morale is high. I hope we can now get back to focusing on the real business of cricket – our performance on the field.”

Ross resigned from his rowing job in September last year and was charged and convicted in July on nine charges of forging documents to gain grants of almost NZ$ 370,000 for the sports body.

His conviction was overturned in September, although he was ordered to pay NZ$ dollars 15,000 costs.