Cricket: Oram ruled out of second test

A back injury has ruled New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram out of the second and final cricket test against Bangladesh starting Saturday in Mirpur.

Team management said Oram will return home after watching the opening day of the test for further assessment of the injury that affected his lower back while bowling during the third evening of the first test in Chittagong on Sunday.

South African born allrounder Grant Elliott is in contention to replace Oram, as he did at Napier in March when he made his test debut in third match against England - his solitary cap to date.

Oram, recently ranked as the top allrounder in one-day cricket, has a history of back issues though it was hip and hamstring issues that affected him during the home and away series' with England.

New Zealand won the first test by three wickets and are seeking a cleansweep to stretch their unbeaten record against the sub-continent minnows to seven matches.

- NZPA