Jacob Oram has been passed fit for New Zealand's two-match Twenty20 series against West Indies.
New Zealand boosted by all-rounder's return
Jacob Oram has been passed fit for New Zealand's two-match Twenty20 series against West Indies.
The all-rounder missed the drawn Test series against the same opponents due to a calf strain and also sat out the visit to Australia in November because of a back problem which had forced his early return home from the tour of Bangladesh.
Coach Andy Moles, who took over from John Bracewell at the start of the domestic season, is glad to have Oram available for the Boxing Day encounter under the Eden Park floodlights.
"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," said Moles.
Calypso
"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."
West Indies are also confident in the 20-over format after several of their players earned a big pay day by representing the Stanford Superstars in a $20 million winner-takes-all match against England on November 1.
The 10-wicket win in Antigua earned Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell a windfall of $1m 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 are looking forward to a return to limited-overs action.
Changes
Test specialists Leon Johnson and Kemar Roach have returned home to make way for Nikita Miller, Shawn Findlay and Pollard in the tourists' squad.
"We have a few new players who have joined the team and they have been to the nets trying to get over their jet-lag," coach John Dyson told the official website of the West Indies Cricket Board.
"We just have to re-adjust our thinking and the way we approach the game as we look forward to these matches and get ready for the Twenty20s.
"With our team, they have a lot of Twenty20 experience and it is a form of the game they are very comfortable and happy with."
