Oram retires from Test cricket
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram retires from Test cricket
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By inthenews. |  |
Tuesday, 13, Oct 2009 10:55
By Alistair Potter.
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has announced his retirement from Test match cricket with immediate effect.
Oram, 31, will still make himself available for limited-overs internationals with the Blackcaps, but said he needs to withdraw from Test matches because of ongoing battles with injury he believes could truncate his playing career.
"I have decided to retire from Test cricket," Oram told a press conference today.
"This decision has been a very tough one and has not been made without careful consideration and discussion with those closest to me.
"The last few years have shown that my body cannot handle the strains and stresses that come with being an all-rounder, playing all three formats for up to ten months a year.
"For the sake of longevity I have had to make a decision that will decrease my workload, so I can concentrate all my efforts on the shorter forms of the game."
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said he understands Oram's decision, and thanked him for his "tremendous contribution to our Test team over the past seven seasons".
"His experience will be missed," he said.
"But we fully understand the difficulties he's faced with injuries - and we hope this decision will help him prolong his playing career with the Blackcaps."
Oram has played 33 Tests since his debut in December 2002, scoring 1,780 runs at an average of 36.32.
His record includes five centuries and six half-centuries, with a high score of 133 against South Africa at Centurion in April 2006.
With the ball Oram has taken 60 Test wickets at an average of 33.05. His best Test bowling of 4-41 came against India at Hamilton in 2002.