Adam Parore: Oram quick to show potential

COMMENT

Anyone with worries about where our next long-term prospects as an international class all-rounder and wicketkeeper would come from can rest easy.

For my money, Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum have all the hallmarks of being around the national team for many years.

It's no secret that Chris Cairns is coming to the end of his career, so Oram's strong form this summer has been timely.

I've no doubt he is up to batting at No. 6. Look at his numbers. He's had a great summer, and he's already been opening the bowling.

His maiden century at Hamilton in the first test last week was a quality performance. He appeals as someone who has the ability to hit the ball and he can turn a game.

There's a little bit of the x-factor about him, plus he gets the job done. He's averaging 39.18 with the bat in eight tests and he's picked up 24 wickets at 25.62. In one-dayers he's taking more than a wicket a game, so he's proved he belongs.

His bowling action looks good. He doesn't take too much out of himself and, as a big, strong guy, he uses momentum and his size to generate pace. He can get the odd ball through sufficiently to hustle the batsman and hurry the shot and can get awkward bounce.

I just hope he stays fit, as that has been a real problem in the New Zealand team over a number of years. Think of Danny Morrison, Dion Nash, Shane Bond and Geoff Allott, all good quicks who had to endure more than their share of injury.

I'll be honest: he's come a long way in the couple of years since I stopped playing. You could see he had talent but he has made an impact at international level quicker than I suspected he would.

I've long been an advocate of putting McCullum into the test team as well as the one-day side. He went 48 ODIs before making his test debut at Hamilton. Sitting on the sidelines probably didn't do him any harm, but I suspect he's been ready for the step up for the past year.

I rated his keeping effort in Hamilton really highly, especially considering it was his first test.

His half-century certainly helped as New Zealand put the onus back on South Africa in the first innings, but we know he can bat. It's his keeping that particularly interests me.

I'm aware of one or two ex-players who have knocked his keeping, and that really annoys me. These so-called experts, always chipping away, can hamper a young player's development.

I think he did a really good job on that pitch. The biggest problem keeping on a pitch which is playing tricks, as Hamilton's did, is that you struggle to get into a rhythm. It can be quite unnerving. Mentally it's hugely draining trying to anticipate what is going to come at you next.

Put it this way: if that had been me, and in my best form, I would have been reasonably satisfied with that performance. The fact it was on debut just added lustre to his effort.

With Oram and McCullum, throw in Michael Papps, who looks to have the makings of an opener with something about him, and promising quicks like Ian Butler and Michael Mason, surround them with a good core of hardened players right through the order, and New Zealand have the basis for a strong, competitive test team for the next few seasons.