All-rounder sidelined for up to a month by partial patella tendon tear
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram will miss the remainder of the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia due to a knee problem.
Oram, who suffered the injury during the first one-day international in Napier, has been ruled out for up to a month.
The 31-year-old also appears likely to sit out a large portion of the 2010 Indian Premier League season - he is contracted to the Chennai Super Kings - which runs from March 12-April 25.
"Jacob Oram suffered a partial tear of the patella tendon," said New Zealand team manager Dave Currie in a statement.
"It is expected that Jacob will recover in three or four weeks, however he will be out for the balance of the Australian series."
Oram has been replaced in the Black Caps squad by Central Districts seamer Michael Mason.
New Zealand also have concerns over captain Daniel Vettori, who missed the series opener against Australia with a stiff neck, but they remain hopeful he will be fit for game two of five in Auckland on Saturday.
"He's feeling a bit more comfortable and he'll hopefully be fine tomorrow," added Currie.
"He's not 100 percent certain [to play]. The neck was a bit stiff. We're certainly hopeful and he's hopeful, but again we'll get through today and get more treatment and see how he wakes up in the morning."
