Jacob Oram will turn his back on his US$675,000 Indian Premier League contract if he fails to complete the State Championship final.
The injury-plagued all-rounder can hear the whispers that he is saving himself for the cash-rich tournament after being a late defection from Central Districts' current match against Auckland.
But Oram says it is far from the truth. He aggravated his Achilles tendon injury in Central's last match and after consulting New Zealand Cricket's medical staff it was decided he should miss the current match and aim for the five-day final against Auckland, starting on April 6.
"I can understand people thinking I'm cotton-woolling myself but I'll definitely take myself out [of the IPL] if I don't get through the final," Oram said.
"I'm pretty confident I will make the final and I won't be tiptoeing through five days of cricket. I'm going to hit it hard, and deep down I think I'll be okay."
Oram bowled 25 overs in the first innings of Central's last match against Canterbury but was unable to bowl in the second innings because of pain in his Achilles.
"I was testing myself to see if I could get up to speed for the Napier test, but clearly I wasn't ready.
"The injury is back again but it's not a train smash, I'm not back to square one but it's a setback. It's more like two steps forward, one step back."
Oram is hurting more than just physically. He says the IPL, which starts on April 18, and the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June, are potentially career high-points that he desperately wants to be involved in.
"Yes I am worried about the IPL and I'm worried about the Twenty20 World Cup.
"The next two to three months are massive for me. I want to be part of both of those.
"Watching the guys play the first two tests against India has been bloody tough on me. It's very hard, emotional at times. Believe me I want to get back more than anyone realises."
Despite his horrible run of injuries, Oram still feels it is premature to throw away the bowling boots.
"It begs the question and I've talked to some mates and we ask the question `why don't I stop bowling?', but I'm not ready for that step yet.
"I bowled in the nets in Hamilton before the first test against India and it felt really good. I'm not prepared to stop yet."
The injury-plagued all-rounder can hear the whispers that he is saving himself for the cash-rich tournament after being a late defection from Central Districts' current match against Auckland.
But Oram says it is far from the truth. He aggravated his Achilles tendon injury in Central's last match and after consulting New Zealand Cricket's medical staff it was decided he should miss the current match and aim for the five-day final against Auckland, starting on April 6.
"I can understand people thinking I'm cotton-woolling myself but I'll definitely take myself out [of the IPL] if I don't get through the final," Oram said.
"I'm pretty confident I will make the final and I won't be tiptoeing through five days of cricket. I'm going to hit it hard, and deep down I think I'll be okay."
Oram bowled 25 overs in the first innings of Central's last match against Canterbury but was unable to bowl in the second innings because of pain in his Achilles.
"I was testing myself to see if I could get up to speed for the Napier test, but clearly I wasn't ready.
"The injury is back again but it's not a train smash, I'm not back to square one but it's a setback. It's more like two steps forward, one step back."
Oram is hurting more than just physically. He says the IPL, which starts on April 18, and the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June, are potentially career high-points that he desperately wants to be involved in.
"Yes I am worried about the IPL and I'm worried about the Twenty20 World Cup.
"The next two to three months are massive for me. I want to be part of both of those.
"Watching the guys play the first two tests against India has been bloody tough on me. It's very hard, emotional at times. Believe me I want to get back more than anyone realises."
Despite his horrible run of injuries, Oram still feels it is premature to throw away the bowling boots.
"It begs the question and I've talked to some mates and we ask the question `why don't I stop bowling?', but I'm not ready for that step yet.
"I bowled in the nets in Hamilton before the first test against India and it felt really good. I'm not prepared to stop yet."
No comments:
Post a Comment