Cricket: Franklin set to replace Oram

Jacob Oram's retirement from test cricket has promoted the search for New Zealand's next genuine allrounder, a role James Franklin seems poised to inherit for next month's three-match home series against Pakistan.

The Wellingtonian left arm pace bowler and handy lower order batsman has twice replaced the injury-prone Oram in recent months.

Oram announced the end of his 33-test career today, blaming a catalogue of injuries for forcing him to focus on the shorter versions of the game.

Franklin stood in for a crocked Oram last summer when the West Indies and India visited - with only moderate success - and he was again summoned from English county cricket last month when Oram strained a hamstring before the Champions Trophy in South Africa began.

The first task for New Zealand Cricket's new selection panel of Glenn Turner, Mark Greatbatch, coach Andy Moles and captain Daniel Vettori is to select a 15-man squad for three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Dubai starting November 3. The squad is expected to be named on Thursday.

Oram expects to be available for the trip but New Zealand will be missing two established members of their top and middle order - Jesse Ryder and Grant Elliott.

Ryder is expected to be sidelined for about two months after suffering a groin tear during the group stage of the Champions Trophy, an injury that seriously jeopardises his prospects of playing the latter stages of the test series against Pakistan.

Elliott who batted on despite nursing a broken thumb in the semifinal victory against Pakistan and title decider with Australia is now resigned to being unavailable until the domestic season starts in mid-November.

Ryder's demise should see the retention of Aaron Redmond at the top of the order with Brendon McCullum while Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill round out the top four.

If fit, Oram could slot in at five unless the selectors opt for the experience of rarely sighted veteran Scott Styris - another replacement for the injury-ravaged Champions Trophy campaign.

With Ryder and Elliott non-starters, Vettori may be promoted to No 6 to shore up a weakened batting order providing he recovers from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Champions Trophy final.

Daryl Tuffey's absence due to a broken hand opens up a vacancy for seamers Iain O'Brien or Tim Southee.

The selectors also have to decide whether Jeetan Patel or Nathan McCullum travel as the second spinner and if Gareth Hopkins is required as a back-up wicketkeeper.

- NZPA