Oram returns for New Zealand

New Zealand welcome back Jacob Oram into their team

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Jacob Oram has recovered from a calf injury and will take part in New Zealand's two-match Twenty20 series against West Indies.

The 30-year-old all-rounder missed the drawn two-Test series against Chris Gayle's men with a calf strain and was also absent for the Black Caps' series defeat to Australia in November because of a back problem which forced his early return home from the tour of Bangladesh.

Oram returns to a team feeling slightly better about themselves following some improved individual performances in the Test arena since the debacle in Australia.

But coach Andy Moles is also looking for a bit more ruthlessness from his players when the first match takes place at Eden Park on Friday after he felt they squandered opportunities to win the second Test in Napier.

"We're eighth in the world on the Test match table but we're fourth in the one-day table," said Moles.

"We've got a good history in one-day cricket. Guys know how to win one-day games and they'll be looking forward to it.

"We've got a competitive side and we'll welcome back Jacob Oram to the Twenty20 side and I think we've got a really strong side.

"The West Indies love to play calypso-style cricket and will be a dangerous side but I'm sure we'll give a good account of ourselves."

New Zealand need to combat Shivnarine Chanderpaul's great batting talents © Getty Images

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Moles has enlisted the help of former Warwickshire team-mate Dermot Reeve, who is now coaching Central Districts, for the series.

Reeve will work with the New Zealand bowlers who will focus on improving their variation which will be crucial in the shortest form of the game, particularly against attack-minded players such as Gayle and current ICC player of the year Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Moles said of Reeve: "He bowled at Warwickshire and he played for England. He was very inventive in his bowling and very upbeat about his play.

"It's just about exposing the players to some new ideas and fresh thoughts.

"If you just run up and bowl the same ball the batsman's going to kill you. You've got to look at the lines you're bowling...slow ball bouncers are coming in these days so there's lots of variations and we've got to make sure we practice those variations so we're top of our game come Boxing Day."

Several of the West Indies players have enjoyed recent Twenty20 success in the Stanford 20/20 for 20.

The 10-wicket win against England earned Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sulieman Benn, Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell US$1million each.

While such financial rewards will not be on offer in Auckland on Boxing Day, nor Seddon Park in Hamilton on December 28, the West Indies will be looking forward, like New Zealand, to a return to the limited-overs matches.

Three players not involved in the Test matches come into the squad - Nikita Miller, Shawn Findlay and Pollard, while Kemar Roach and Leon Johnson drop out.