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Jacob Oram is back from knee surgery and ready to assume a different role as the BLACKCAPS preparations for the World Cup start with the first of six one-day cricket internationals against Pakistan at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
There were times when the big Central Stags allrounder wondered whether he would make it to the ICC Cricket World Cup, let alone this series, after requiring knee surgery last September.
He played his part by returning to the field last month and the selectors did the rest, backing his experience and past performances by this week naming him in the squad for the Pakistan series, and the subcontinent-hosted World Cup, which starts next month.
"There were plenty of touch-and-go moments early on," he said yesterday.
"The swelling was quite dramatic and there were times when physically I thought I might not make it, and also mentally ... but the World Cup was the major factor in keeping me going.
"Thankfully that hard work has paid off."
He is also thankful the selectors showed faith. He returned to the HRV Cup in the latter stages and has played a handful of domestic one-dayers but his selection is based on what he has done in the past.
The 32-year-old has taken 142 wickets from 141 one-day international wickets at 30.52 with an outstanding economy rate of 4.33 runs per over, while his batting average is 24.75 and his strike rate a tick under 85.
"I think the fact I'm older, experienced and been to a couple of World Cups has helped me," he said.
"My bowling's gone really well, I've been extremely happy with the way the ball has come out. The runs haven't been flowing but I don't feel far away.
"Based on performances you could probably say I was touch and go but I'd like to think the selectors have put faith in the fact I've played a few games and done well."
Oram said he had been surprised at how well his knee has responded during the past few weeks.
"It was a bit stiff and sore when I first came back into the (Twenty20 competition), which made me a little bit hesitant going into the one-dayers, but the more bowling I've done and the more pressure I've put on it, the better it has responded.
"The surgeon said it would be the type of rehab where you can two steps forward and one back quite easily. I think I was experiencing that at first but since it started to settle down, it's been all good."
His return will step up several notches tomorrow in the first one-day international against Pakistan, with Oram expected to shoulder a significant bowling load.
His role has shifted away from being a batting allrounder and moved back to where he started his international career, as a bowler first, bit-hitting batsman second. By his own admission, he could bat as low as No 9 in the current team.
"Now I'm probably a first change bowler and sliding down the order," he said.
"That was tough to swallow when it first happened but I'd do anything to go to the World Cup. That's my role now and I'm happy with it."
NZPA
